Day 12: Living Water

The most visible component of 40 Days for Life is its prayerful, peaceful presence in front of abortion centers. Its source of strength is not confrontation, but love. It is faithful witness to God, who is Love, that has the potential to change hearts and minds. As shown by the story of Abby Johnson, former Planned Parenthood employee of the year and now pro-life activist, we must never return evil for evil, but be a true witness for life and the Lord of Life.

When he presents the heart of his redemptive mission, Jesus says: "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (Jn 10:10). In truth, he is referring to that "new" and "eternal" life which consists in communion with the Father, to which every person is freely called in the Son by the power of the Sanctifying Spirit. It is precisely in this "life" that all the aspects and stages of human life achieve their full significance.

In today's quote from Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life), paragraph 1, we see that Christ's mission was not to bring ordinary, natural life, but eternal life. So we pray not only for the lives of the unborn to be preserved, but also for the eternal lives of mothers considering abortion, clinic workers and abortionists -- that springs of living water might cleanse and renew their hearts.