no part in death
"God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel, and he cried aloud: 'I will have no part in the death of this woman.' " —Daniel 13:45-46
May the Holy Spirit be stirred into flame (2 Tm 1:6-7) so that we will cry out: "I will have no part in the deaths of babies in the womb, of the starving, of the victims of war, and of the spiritually dead." In the Holy Spirit, may we refuse to contribute to or compromise with our culture of death. In the Spirit, may we attack "the jaws of death" (Mt 16:18), "quickly crush Satan" under our feet (Rm 16:20), and displace our culture of death with a civilization of life and love.
When Daniel refused to have a part in the death of Susanna, he brought down a corrupt judicial system (Dn 13:52-53) and stopped a long series of sexual abuses (Dn 13:56-57). By the courage and the wisdom which comes from the Holy Spirit, we can rock our stuffed, foundationless culture of death and topple it. We can then permeate our culture with the Gospel (Catechism, 899).
Be a Daniel, a Francis of Paola, a John Paul II, a Therese of Lisieux, a Mary, or a Joseph. Filled with the Holy Spirit, let it be done to you according to God's word (Lk 1:38). Do whatever Jesus tells you (Jn 2:5). Do life's little things with faith and love. Have no part in sin and death. Live the abundant life in Christ (Jn 10:10). In the risen Christ, live the victory of life.
Prayer: Father, I choose abundant and eternal life (see Dt 30:19). I will have no part in the culture of death.
Promise: "I am the Light of the world. No follower of Mine shall ever walk in darkness; no, he shall possess the Light of life." —Jn 8:12
Praise: St. Francis became a hermit at the age of fifteen.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order Fr. Lauer's tape on The Culture of Death on audio AV 73-3 or video V-73.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, December 9, 2000
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 12, 2000