Silent Scream (Acts 8:32) by Alton Pelowski

08 May Silent Scream (Acts 8:32) by Alton Pelowski

“This was the scripture passage he was reading: ‘Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opened not his mouth. …” ~ Acts 8:32 (full readings)
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Alton’s Reflections:  When an Ethiopian eunuch was reading a passage from Isaiah about the suffering servant (cf. Is 53:7-8), he needed someone to explain to him its meaning. Philip the Apostle had obeyed the message of an angel to embark on the desert road from Jerusalem to Gaza, and, prompted by the Holy Spirit, he caught up to the chariot ahead of him. He explained to the Ethiopian that the passage referred to Jesus Christ, who suffered in silence for our sake, radically united himself to the lost and abandoned, and ultimately conquered the power of sin and death. Nowhere is such silent abandonment more present in our world today than in abortion. Following his conversion, the late Bernard Nathanson produced the pro-life documentary, “The Silent Scream,” in 1984. The co-founder of NARAL and once a notorious abortionist, Nathanson grew to realize the humanity of the unborn and later, because of the witness of others, came to faith in Christ. So, too, will many people blinded by the culture of death come to know the reality of abortion and Christ’s saving power if, like Philip, believers obey the prompting of the Spirit and are willing to humbly witness to the truth.
* Alton John-Paul Pelowski is editor of Columbia magazine for the Knights of Columbus. Since 2003, he has run 12 marathons in 12 states, including three as a LIFE Runner.
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Faith Challenge:  The next time someone brings up the topic of abortion, or makes a comment about your LIFE Runners gear, don’t be afraid to engage in conversation, sharing what you believe about the sanctity of human life.
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Counter-Culture News:  LifeSiteNews, LifeNews, American Family, Vatican, Project Rachel.
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Our Prayers:  Pray LIFE Runners Creed to end abortion.  Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, unceasingly. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
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Feast Day:  Saint Peter of Tarentaise.
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Faith Quote:  “Every child who, rather than being born, is condemned unjustly to being aborted, bears the face of Jesus Christ, bears the face of the Lord, who even before he was born, and then just after birth, experienced the world’s rejection.” ~ Pope Francis, Address to the International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations, Sept. 20, 2013.
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Through Christ Our Lord,
Alton