Least among us

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has
anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has
sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim
liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the
blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.


-- Luke 4:18-19

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REFLECTION by Fr. Terry Gensemer
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This passage is a very familiar one. It has been
preached on many occasions, even made popular in
books and songs. Though the quote is about Jesus, all
Christians take this commission seriously as a
directive on how to reach the world with the gospel.

We, like our Savior, are to bring the good news to
the poor, the broken hearted, those in captivity,
those who cannot see, and the oppressed.

The commission given to us in this passage is clearly
a charge to care for those for whom God cares the
most. I wonder though, whom do we look for to be
touched by the Holy Spirit as we go out into the
world?

Who are the poor, if not those unborn children who
have been abandoned by their parents before they ever
leave the womb?

Who are the broken hearted, if not those unborn
children whose only example of love is having their
mother take them to an abortion clinic to be
destroyed, or the mother of a child who has been
deceived by everyone around her into believing that
what she is doing is best for her and her child?

Who are the captives, if not those unborn children
who are bound over to death by the "choice" of
abortion?

Who is more blind than an unborn child in the
darkness of a womb that has become a waiting room for
their death?

And who is more oppressed than those unborn children
whose oppression has been legitimized by their
government, their church and even their family and
loved ones?

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PRAYER
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Lord, You empower us with Your Spirit to do your will
in the earth. Send us to the poorest, the most
broken, the most captive, the most blind and the most
oppressed in the world, the innocent pre-born
children in their mother's wombs that are scheduled
for destruction. Help us to bring them healing,
liberty, sight, and justice through Jesus Christ our
Lord, Amen.