It is understandable that the abortion issue illicits strong emotional reactions, which have on occasion led to deadly physical violence; but are emotional reactions motivated in many pro-life advocates primarily for the wrong reason?
The baseball fanatic said to his best friend who was on his final-departure bed, “When you get to heaven, come back and let me know if they play baseball in heaven.”
A few nights after the funeral, the departed appeared in a dream to his friend and said, “I’ve got some good news and some bad news for you. The good news is that they do play baseball in heaven; the bad news is, you are pitching baseball in heaven next Tuesday.”
In my parish missions I have often told that story. I suspect the spontaneous laughter indicates that many Christians are programmed to believe that pitching baseball in heaven next Tuesday rather than remaining longer here on earth is indeed bad news.
Immediately after the laughter, I say, “Of course, that is not the true ending of the story. Rather, ‘I’ve got some good news for you and some terrific news. The good news is, they do play baseball in heaven. The terrific news, you are pitching baseball in heaven next Tuesday!’”
St. Paul reminds us, ” … that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yet … we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord”(2 Cor:5:6-8).
Or as the two ladies said as they entered heaven, “Wow! Just think, if we hadn’t eaten all of that oat bran, we could have been here five years ago!”
The dictionary definition of “die” is “To stop living; to pass out of existence.” But for us humans, only the body has the demise. “The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace”(Wis 3:1-3).
In the first preface of the Mass for the departed we pray, “Life is changed, not ended.” We speak of the faithful departed. We graduate to the fullness of life.
Lifeless bodies, not dead people, are buried in cemetaries. In the cemetary adjacent to the Old Cathedral of Vincennes, Ind., a tombstone inscription attests to this reality: “Here lies the body of Janne Boneaux, who departed this world at age 28, Nov. 15, 1800.”
And so, “Life is real, life is earnest, and the grave is not its goal. Dust thou art and to dust returnest was not spoken of the soul.”
Several years ago a lady wrote to Ann Landers: “Last January it was two years since our daughter Karen died. Don’t tell me God never makes a mistake. You mean he did this on purpose?!”
If she believed in heaven, I would remind her since she wants what is best for her daughter, she may take consolation in that reality.
If a good friend excitedly tells you that she has just received a wonderful promotion and raise, it would be totally out of character for you to respond, “I’m certainly sorry to hear that.” It is far more unreasonable to be devastated when a loved one receives the greatest possible promotion and raise to the fullness of life, where every tear is wiped away.
“We would have you be clear about those who sleep in death, brothers and sisters, otherwise you might yield to grief, like those who have no hope …. Console one another with this message” (1 Thes 4).
On December 28 we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Innocents. They never knew of God, were incapable of sinning or of choosing to be martyrs, but we acknowledge them to be saints. The same reasoning applies to the aborted embryos and fetuses; they also are innocent. Therefore, as pro lifers we should be mindful that, like the Holy Innocents, and like the fellow scheduled to pitch baseball in heaven next Tuesday, life for the aborted is changed – transformed — not ended.
Regardless, the primary reason for our objection to abortion should be because of the serious wrong of humans usurping God’s singular right over innocent human life. Accordingly, in seeking to protect and promote life from conception to final departure, may we be steadfast in prayerful determination to be united with Jesus in his desire that our Father’s will may be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Father Charles Van Winkle, CSC PARISH MISSIONS 2111 BRACKENRIDGE STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS 78704-4322 (512) 382-7324