Pray for the Legal Protection of Unborn children

 (Note: Readers have noticed that the daily Slices of Bread appear at odd times and sometimes not even on the day they were written and "sent".  I don't know why but will try to find out and correct the situation, as mnay look for them to start their day.)

A House Divided Cannot Stand

²⁰ Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. ²¹ But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.”

Isn't it amazing that the relatives of Jesus thought he was crazy  while the multitudes couldn't get enough of him and nearly crushed each other to get near him. Yes, they were looking for healing but that healing was more than just a lure to attract crowds to hear his message.  The real "pot of gold" is, however, Jesus himself. We all need healing but more so do we need a relationship with Jesus who not only heals the ills of our bodies, but the ill of our misdirected energies and self-centered thoughts and actions. Our goal is "to put on the mind of Christ" to be as much like him as possible: loving, compassionate, forgiving, "other centered."  Doesn't this goal give us direction and purpose? Doesn't it call us to support the pursuit of goodness and truth? Doesn't it call us to support the gift of life itself?

Today is the 49th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision and yesterday the March for Life again took place in Washington with the hope that this might be the last as the Supreme Court will make a decision on its legality in June. Our Bishops have asked us to pray, and fast for the protection of the unborn, as small thing compared to the magnitude of a life. What would Jesus do?  What will I do?  Fr. Michka's prayer might be a start.

Bro. Rene 

Father in heaven, in your infinite wisdom you created the human race in your image. In doing so, you allow us to encounter your beauty and mystery in the face of our brothers and sisters. Help us to see traces of your goodness in the lives of those around us, especially in those whom our society treats as expendable. Your Son teaches us to approach people on the periphery with a radical love, one that can be difficult for others to understand. Help us, heavenly Father, to love and work for the good of all people: for the elderly who are often forgotten, for the poor who discomfort the comfortable, and for the unborn, whose vulnerability demands of us our attention and protection.

  Rev. Aaron J. Michka, C.S.C.