Heroic NOT Casual (John 6:53) by Steve Castle

“Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.” ~ John 6:53 (full readings)

Steve’s Reflections:  Are you Heroic in your faith?  I recently read an article (here) about Bishop Daniel Jenky (Peoria, IL) and his call for Catholics  to heroically stand up for their beliefs when voting.  Bishop Jenky courageously stated, ““No Catholic ministry — and yes, Mr. President, for Catholics our schools and hospitals are ministries — can remain faithful to the Lordship of the Risen Christ and to his glorious Gospel of Life if they are forced to pay for abortions.”  He exhorts us to be heroic in our faith and not casual.  Thank you Bishop Jenky for being heroic and facing persecution for your comments!  In today’s Gospel Jesus made a series of similarly radical statements to thousands of Jews following him at the expense of watching them walk away thinking he was crazy (Did he say “GNAW”?).  In fact that is exactly what happened to Jesus.  We are told in verse 66 that many of his disciples returned to their previous way of life and stopped following him because, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?”   In many ways the issue of mandated abortion coverage in our health care system is eerily similar.  To talk openly against it immediately divides and polarizes the audience.   For some it is absurd to compare our current administrations tactics to Stalin and Hitler, yet as we look at history that is exactly what they did.  They tore down the religious institutions first through calculated propaganda.  For me it puts it in proper perspective when I consider the real scope of the issue.  Jesus was exhorting the crowd to see a profound heroic truth – something that stretched them – the Eucharist.  We are a Eucharistic people!  Likewise, today we must consider a profound truth that will equally stretch us to be HEROIC and appropriately frame the issue: there is a modern holocaust that crosses all racial boundaries and has taken the lives of 53 million unborn babies and injured countless mothers, fathers, and families.  Perhaps Bishop Jenky’s comments aren’t crazy like the media would like us to believe?
* Steve Castle serves the LIFE Group on the corporate board, is a regular author for LIFE Group Devotions on Friday’s, and is the editor/voice of the LIFE Minute. His wife Tina and he live in Fergus Falls, MN where they are attending to their number one ministry; their four children.  Full bio.

Faith Challenge:  Be Heroic!  The current issues facing our country are literally life threatening for the only legally unprotected class of person, the unborn.  Commit to pray for our countries leaders and make a commitment to vote LIFE this November.  

Sr. Francelle’s Devotion:  Only God can give life and only God can take it away (Feb. 2008)

Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life, AFA, Vatican, Project Rachel.

Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion, Spiritual Adoption, Alpha Center, Peters family (JP). Add Prayers on our website. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, LIFE Runners, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now. 

Feast Day: St. Simeon (d. 107)

Faith Quote:  “The church survived Nazism and Communism. And in the power of the resurrection, the church will survive the hatred of Hollywood, the malice of the media and the mendacious wickedness of the abortion industry.” ~ Bishop Daniel Jenky, Peoria, IL

Through Christ Our Lord,
Steve
Romans 12:12

* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will and His miracles, changing us & helping others. Fast from things that take your eyes off Jesus. Those who pray together stay together, and close to God!
* Save Unborn (and family): Abortion (images) is #1 death cause (22% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 and Jer 1:5. “A great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish.” Mother Teresa.
* Evangelize: Make room for unbelievers and re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Matt 28:19.