Friday, March 25, 2005
A PLEA FOR TERRI
Since our bishops have failed to plead for her, I'm posting the words of an Orthodox priest whose wisdom is far superior to anything I've heard from the Catholic clergy that I received in email. Keep in mind that the Eastern Orthodox follow a different liturgical calendar than ours.
From: "Father Demetrios"
Subject: "I have set before you life and death ..."
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 16:03:34 -0500
"I call both heaven and earth to witness this day against you. I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse: choose life, that thou and thy seed may live."
(Deuteronomy 30:19)
Eve of the Annunciation 2005
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The Holy Prophet and 'God-seer', Moses, spoke these words to the people of Israel shortly before they entered - without him - the 'promised land.' How appropriate are those words today for all citizens of the United States --- especially the ones that are Orthodox Christians. Unless a miracle occurs in a very short time, our nation will allow a human being - created in the image and likeness of God - to die of starvation and dehydration. Our nation will choose death ---its own death; for when the final breath of Terri Schiavo occurs, it will mark the death of our nation's soul!
How long-suffering beyond words is our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! On January 22, 1972 the soul of America should have died. When 6 fallible and sinful judges determined that life in the womb was a piece of property, they rebuked the infallible and sinless God Who created us; and yet, even after we have slaughtered over 45 MILLION living ikons of Him in the past generation, our Lord has continued to allow His mercy to triumph over His justice. We are still the most blessed nation in the world, even though our actions deserve tsunamis, famines, plagues, and catastrophic earthquakes, as other nations are experiencing.
In my sinful and limited mind, I truly believe that what happens with the physical life of Terri is an opportunity for us to begin our return to the God Who has blessed us --- even when we curse Him. Once again the courts of man have shown contempt for God. Once again judges are handing down satanic decisions against God's innocent ones. If we allow her to starve to death, then - in a very short time - tens (perhaps hundreds ) of thousands of innocent souls - mostly elderly, but also young and middle-aged - will be allowed to starve to death. I am not talking about people on life support machines such as respirators, but people whose only crime is that they cannot feed themselves, or hold conversations. Are we so arrogant and cold hearted that we believe God will continue to be long-suffering?
In the final two or three paragraphs of the NRO article (sent to you right after I e-mailed this note), it is indicated that the only action left to save Terri is for Governor Jeb Bush to use his authority to take her under protective custody --- an action which could destroy his future in politics, but which would erase many of his sins on that fearful Day. While I am praying that Governor Bush will act so boldly, I have another prayer that is far more important: to the Mother of our Life --- the one who gave flesh to God the Word, our Most Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.
Beloved brothers and Sisters in the Lord Jesus, recall how - at the wedding of Cana - our "Panaghia" simply told her son "they have no wine"; and our Lord performed his very 1st miracle by changing water into wine. Surely she will intercede for us before her Son in the 11th hour of this most crucial circumstance regarding the future of our nation! Surely, He Who changed water into wine so speedily will provide us with an "escape" from the "death sentence" for our nation's soul!
What better time to appeal to our Panaghia then on the feast of her Annunciation (new calendar)? Let us attend Great Vespers this evening and the Divine Liturgy tomorrow, and cry out to her for her protection and assistance. Tomorrow, during the Holy Liturgy, I humbly suggest to my brother priests that will be serving to do the following --- an action which a holy Abbess told me is one of the most powerful means of entreating God's help: When we lift up the Holy Gifts and offer them to our Lord, let us all lift up the soul of our nation; and beg our Most sweet Lord and Saviour - through the intercessions of His Holy Mother - to prevent the murder of this innocent women. If it pleases Him, may he do this in a manner that NO ONE would have expected.
The slaughter of God's innocents must stop. O Most Holy Theotokos please come to our aid! Please help us to "choose life that we and our children may live!"
+Fr. Demetrios
