Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle A

Wis 6:12-16
1 Thes 4:13-18 or 4:13-14
Mt 25:1-13

The second reading today reminds us that “Christ died and rose again.” This, of course, is the basis for the pro-life efforts of the Church. We stand with life and proclaim life precisely because we stand with and proclaim Christ, who conquered the power of death. His resurrection does not simply conquer his death. It conquers ours, because it overthrows the entire kingdom of death. Therefore, in a radical sense, the power of abortion has already been defeated in Christ. We, the People of Life, have the task of announcing that victory, celebrating it, and serving it. We must apply it to every sector of society. This work is to be done with confidence, because victory is our starting point. In the pro-life cause, we are not just working for victory; we are working from victory.

The lesson of vigilance that comes from the Gospel can be applied to the constant vigilance that we as individuals and as a nation must keep over the sacredness of life, not allowing anything into our attitudes, actions, laws, or public policies that degrades or denies the right to life.