Most Reverend José H. Gomez
Auxiliary Bishop of Denver

My brother priests, sisters and brothers in Christ,

We gather today to pray for life on the 31 st anniversary of the legalization of abortion in the United States. We are celebrating the Votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary to ask her intercession to renew our commitment to the culture of life in our Country.

We are doing it just a couple of months after the signing of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act by President Bush, which “marks the first time in three decades that our nation has placed any restriction on an abortion procedure. This is a vital step in the right direction for our nation -- and for the women who have suffered and the children who have died because of this uniquely intimate form of violence” Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M., Cap., The Chairman of the Committee for Pro-Life Activities, 11/5/03.

Here in Colorado, the State Congress passed a Parental Notification Law, which went into effect on November 1, 2003. As we know, it is a law that requires that a parent or guardian be notified at least 48 hours before an abortion be performed on a minor.

We are grateful to God for these events in the life of our country, they help people to see the importance of life since the moment of conception to natural death. It is encouraging, then, to see some progress in the public arena to protect human life.

The readings of the Mass help us to see our Christian vocation and the Apostolic mission that we have at the beginning of the third millennium.

The 1 st reading talks about God's call to Saul to be the King of Israel. They asked for a King and God agreed to their request. Then, Samuel anointed Saul and said to him: ‘You are the man who must rule the Lord's people, and who must save them from the power of the enemies surrounding them.'

It reminded me of our Christian vocation. We all have a vocation, a personal call to the fullness of Christian life. A call to ‘participate in the life of the Risen Lord' (CCC, 1694) Our vocation is then, a special grace from God, that we are grateful for, and that includes the challenge to be faithful to God and to help other people to discover God in their lives.

That's what today's passage of the Gospel is all about. St. Mark talks about Levi's and St. Matthew's vocation and Jesus' teaching ministry. Please notice that Jesus was spending time with people that were not exactly devout Jews: “When Jesus was at dinner in his house, a number of tax collectors and sinners were also sitting at the table with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many of them among his followers.”

He was obviously criticized for dealing with them, but he gave them a clear answer that is a good lesson for us: “It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.”

As we reflect on today's society and the promotion of the culture of life, we can say the same. People are in need of education and encouragement to respect life.

It is true that in the last years there are more people that are aware of the need to respect life, but there is still a long way to change the hearts of the people from selfishness to love for the culture of life.

We all are aware that there are some achievements of three decades of the pro-life movement:

"Today fewer abortions are being performed each year, and fewer doctors are willing to be involved in abortion."

"More Americans identify themselves as pro-life, while the number of those saying they are pro-choice has declined significantly." (The message cites a Gallup poll noting that "prior to 1996, Americans were more likely to call themselves pro-choice than they are today"; in Gallup's August 2001 poll, "pro-life" respondents matched those calling themselves "pro-choice" (46% v. 46%).

Above all, the pro-life movement is making major gains among the young. "Many in the last generation fought for legal abortion, but more today fight for true freedom for women." A Matter of the Heart . The pastoral message was prepared by the Bishops' Committee for Pro-Life Activities.

But, we all know that there is still a real need to continue the effort to help people experience a real conversion. We know that abortion is still a problem. That contraception, the death penalty, and so many other issues, as basic as the sanctity of marriage or the respect of the dignity of the human person, are not well understood and accepted by many people in Western society.

So, we find ourselves having to do just like Jesus, talking to people that need a lot of help to understand the value of life and all of those other issues. Issues and values that are so important for the human person, for society, for peace in the world. Now that everyone is concerned about peace in the world, let's pray for everyone to understand the value of life as the first and most important right of the human person.

Just a few months ago the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II said to the members of the Italian Pro-Life Movement: “On receiving the Nobel Prize for Peace, Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, whom you consider the spiritual president of the pro-life movements in the world, had the courage to say to the leaders of political communities : "If we let a mother kill the fruit of her womb, what is left to us? It is the principle of abortion that endangers peace in the world" Pope John Paul II To The Members Of The Italian Pro-Life Movement, 22 May 2003 , 3.

“It is true! the Holy Father goes on, there can be no true peace without respect for life , especially if it is innocent and defenseless as is that of the unborn child. Elementary coherence requires those who seek peace to safeguard life. No pro-peace activity can be effective unless attacks on life at all its stages, from conception until natural death, are as energetically opposed. Thus, your movement is not only a Pro-Life movement but also an authentic peace movement, precisely because of your constant effort to protect life” Pope John Paul II To The Members Of The Italian Pro-Life Movement, 22 May 2003, 3.

Let's continue to pray for peace in the world. Let's renew our enthusiasm in the development of the culture of life in the world and especially in our country. It is an exciting time to be a Roman Catholic.

The future of our country and of the world depends on each one of us. To imitate the life and mission of Christ at the beginning of this new millennium is a real challenge for us all, but with the help of God's grace we can do it!

In the words of the Holy Father Pope John Paul II: “Never be discouraged and never tire, dear brothers and sisters, of proclaiming and witnessing to the Gospel of life …”Pope John Paul II To The Members Of The Italian Pro-Life Movement, 22 May 2003, 5.

We go to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Immaculate Conception, to ask her to ‘grant that all who believe in your Son may proclaim the Gospel of life with honesty and love to the people of our time…Amen' Pope John Paul II, Gospel of Life, 105.