James 1:19-21 (slow to anger) by Travis Benson

Travis’ Reflections: These words of wisdom are easy to absorb, but much more difficult to apply in our lives, especially in our pro-life efforts.  How often are we quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger when we listen to the latest pro-abortion politician defending “choice”, or an employee of Planned Parenthood promoting “comprehensive sex education” on the evening news, or an acquaintance or friend defending the “right to choose”? Anger flares easily for us because we are well aware of how many children are aborted every single day in our state, country, and world. Often we speak quickly, wanting to correct the half-truths and twisted logic, confident that we will win the argument because we have truth on our side.  But Jesus calls us to instead react peacefully, to share the truth about abortion with humility. As His servants, we are called to be peaceful warriors for Christ, so that our humble nature and kind manners can soften the hardness surrounding the other person’s heart.  Scripture suggests that if we do this, we will accomplish the righteousness of God. Perhaps we will not observe this personally, but the grace of God is not bound by space and time, and the Holy Spirit has a way of nurturing and making fertile that seed you’ve planted.
* Travis Benson and his wife Kelly are the co-directors of the Office of Marriage, Family, & Respect Life and lobbyists for the Diocese of Sioux Falls.  They have been blessed with 3 daughters and 2 sons, with their second son due in May.

Faith Challenge: Say a prayer and offer a rosary today for those who will be given the opportunity to evangelize in this culture of death.  Pray that our hearts will be filled with God’s Divine Mercy and ask forgiveness for every time we spoke in anger and did not take the time to hear.

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

Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. LIFE Runners Creed. Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.

Feast Day: St. Claude la Colombiere

Faith Quote: “It is an illusion to think we can build a true culture of human life if we do not . . . accept and experience sexuality and love and the whole of life according to their true meaning and their close inter-connection.” ~ Pope John Paul the Great (Evangelium Vitae, 97)

Through Christ Our Lord,
Travis
Phil 4:6-8

* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will & 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 (& family): Abortion reality (images)…#1 death cause (22% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 & 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 & re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Mt 28:19.