Life over Death

In the past several years the battle over legalized abortion in our nation has been thrust to the ‘top’ of every political agenda. With the overturning of Roe V Wade, the question of when and if it is ok to kill an unborn child is once again ‘on the ballot’ of public opinion.

Today is the commemoration of Saint Philothea of Athens. HERE is a brief story of her ‘mission’ to protect women from abuse and violence. She herself was a victim of violence and was eventually killed for helping rescue and comfort other women.

I have had the distinct blessing to hear confession for nearly eighteen years. In that time, I have witnessed women of all ages confess the sin of abortion. Some were younger and others quite old. The one thing every confession had in common was the devastation from the abortion.

Without exception, even decades later, women are traumatized and haunted by past abortions. The guilt on these women continues to weigh them down. On the contrary I have never experienced women traumatized or haunted by the decision to give birth to an ‘unwanted’ child.

Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.  And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.  All who keep his commandments abide in him, and he in them.  And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he has given us. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world.  By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit which does not confess Jesus is not of God.  This is the spirit of antichrist, of which you heard that it was coming, and now it is in the world already.  Little children, you are of God, and have overcome them; for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.  They are of the world, therefore what they say is of the world, and the world listens to them.  We are of God.  Whoever knows God listens to us, and he who is not of God does not listen to us.  By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God.  He who does not love does not know God; for God is love.  In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.  In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

1^st John 3:21-24;4:1-11

For me, the connection to today’s reading is the opening verse. Our hearts are the connection to God daily in our choices and convictions. Our hearts know when we have made the wrong choice and rejoice with us when we make the right choice.

The problem with choosing life over death isn’t a legal one. The problem is a heart problem, and it doesn’t end with the heart of the women involved. The guilt imposed by a woman’s heart can either be inflamed by judgment of her peers or soothed by the love of God and His Church.

If women knew, by experience, that family and friends would stand with them and love them, I firmly believe we would experience abortion ‘go away’ at least among our Orthodox Community. The self-imposed guilt is hard enough. The Church shouldn’t add more guilt. Mistakes happen.

I was recently asked if I ever found myself judging someone in confession. After nearly eighteen years of ‘hearing everything’ in Confession, instead of judgment I constantly find myself with a sense of awe. I am in awe when I witness humility and repentance at any level.

There might be isolated stories of priests ‘telling’ confessions, I will admit. Such priests are extremely rare. There is grace in Holy Confession. There is grace when we approach the Holy Altar of God and open our hearts to Him. The priest is there to comfort us and forgive us.

So, if you are reading this today and are either considering an abortion or have had an abortion, I pray you will find the courage to seek out a priest and open your heart to God. Choose life over death, and your ‘future’ heart will thank you.

If you know someone in need, bring them to the Church. Be their example of love and comfort rather than judgment and guilt. There will be enough self-imposed guilt for everyone. Maybe we can heal together.