There are many times in life that we are asked to do something and we say “yes” because we imagine what we are being asked to do will never come to pass. This was certainly the case when I was asked to be power of attorney for my pastor while I was in my first parish more than twenty years ago. At the time, the priest who was my pastor was about 65 years old and he asked me if I would look after him if he ever got sick or needed care. He was very healthy, and I thinking nothing would ever happen to him, happily said “yes” to his request.

About fifteen years after I had said “yes,” he became very ill with Alzheimer’s disease and his mental capacity deteriorated very quickly. He was soon unable to look after himself and I and some of his other friends assumed care for him. I have to say I was quite shocked how he was occasionally treated by the medical community. It was clear that if he had not had people to advocate for him, he would have never have received the care that he needed. On one occasion when he was taken to the hospital for a very routine and treatable illness, the doctors amazed those of us charged with his care by asking if we wanted him to receive water and food. Knowing that his answer to this question would have been a resounding “yes,” those of us charged with his care also said “yes” to these very ordinary means of treatment.

This Sunday is Respect for Life Sunday. This is a day that calls all of us to give our “yes” to life. The gift of life which we receive is a sacred gift that is not ours to say “yes” or “no” to as we wish. Our Christian belief is that God is the giver of all life and it is He who is to decide when it begins and when it ends. The Catholic Christian position on life is that it begins at the moment of conception and ends with natural death.

The image of the vineyard that we hear spoken of in today’s Gospel is much like the Garden that God created at the beginning of time, in which He gave humanity the gift of life. God, who has given all of us life, requires that we give our “yes” to life. As today’s first reading from the Book of Ezekiel indicates, it is not enough for us to live a good life and at the end of life say “no” to God. God’s people are to say “yes” to the gift of life always.

This is clearly not an easy thing to do. While life in general is often good, there are many times and occasions when for some people life is extremely difficult. It was for this reason that we hear in our second reading this Sunday, from Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, that Jesus became one of us. As many suffer and are humiliated by the trials of illness, so too Christ suffered and was humiliated on the cross that we might have a God who understands our suffering. Jesus accepted God’s will for Him so that we might have an example of how we can accept the Father’s will as Jesus did. In teaching us to pray the “Our Father,” Jesus has given us the words to ask God’s help in order that we may say “yes” in our times of trial to the Father’s will for us. Jesus came into the world that we might have His compassionate and gentle support in our trials. When we are weak, Christ is with us in our trials and difficulties.

Today’s readings do not just tell us that God is with us to support us, they also speak of His mercy and forgiveness. Because we are weak, God knows there will be times when we do say “no” to God, His will for us, or to life. The readings today remind us that we can always turn to Him and live. As the first reading from the Book of Ezekiel states, “God does not desire the death of any sinner.” The Father desires that everyone should turn to Him and live. In fact, God is so generous in granting forgiveness, that this reading also states that some are actually scandalized that God does forgive all people from the tax-collectors, prostitutes, murderers, and all who turn back to Him. Whenever we speak of the Church’s pro-life teaching, in regards to all areas of life, we must also speak of God’s pro-life commitment to eternal life for all people by speaking of the forgiveness for all sins that is offered through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This beautiful balance is shown every time the Sisters of Life host “The Source” here at St. Peter’s Parish. At “The Source” we gather in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament to pray for life. At the same time, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated so that any who have said “no” to God in any way may also turn back to Him and live—for as the Psalm today tells us, the Lord is always ready to forgive and “show sinners the way.”

As today is Respect for Life Sunday, at announcement time today, the Sisters of Life who will be moving their outreach offices into the rectory this summer, will be here to say a few words about their mission and the work that they will be doing from their offices here at the parish. I know I have said this before, but will repeat it again; the Sisters of Life will not be living in the rectory. They will simply have their outreach offices in half of the rectory. The parish offices and the residence for the priest(s) assigned to the parish will take up the other half of the rectory. I thank the Sisters of Life for being here to speak to us this weekend.

I pray that by working together we might all give a more powerful “yes” to God and His gift of life.

May God strengthen us all in our witness to life on this Respect for Life Sunday.

Fr. Michael McGourty
Pastor—St. Peter’s Parish– Toronto