When we talk about God’s love and His mercy, it is easy to see it when we talk about Jesus. But if you pay close attention, you see the tenderness of a loving father through the pages of the Old Testament.
How Can We See The Father’s Love In The Old Testament?
Let’s go back to the beginning when God made mankind. He gave one commandment — do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Yet we all know the story. The woman takes of the fruit and then gives it to her husband.
“And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, ‘Where are you?’” (Genesis 3:8-9)
All of us, at some point in our lives, have been in the same position as Adam and Eve. We too have eaten of the forbidden fruit in our lives. We’ve made decisions that we know do not please God or have done things we know God has told us not to. Instead of walking in redemption, we turn away. And just like Adam and Eve, we find ourselves hiding from the presence of God.
Why? Because we think that God looks down on us with anger and will scold us or remind us that we were foolish. We think that if we were to show our face to Him, He is going to use the “Didn’t I tell you so?” phrase that we so often hear from our own family members or parents.
But the wonderful thing is, He doesn’t!
The beautiful character of God is shown in the next line, when He calls out to man and asks, “Where are you?”
It’s a question that makes us self-reflect. It compels us to question where we are in our walk with God. It’s a moment for us to be honest, and when answered truthfully, the question is also an invitation from God to draw close to Him.
Drawing Every Woman Close To God
God is calling out to every woman who walks through the aboriton facility. He is asking them where they are. The same invitation is outstretched to them — to draw near to Him — as it has been to us. Walking in redemption is what we desire for every woman facing unplanned pregnancies. He does not want them to stay hidden from Him.
As you stand on the sidewalk, pray that His love and His face shine upon yours so that the women may see Him. Pray that they would also have an opportunity to self-reflect and accept the invitation of God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness so they can live free and walk in His redemption.
Devotional for Day 5
Intention: May the truth of the final judgment shape our thoughts, priorities, and choices here on earth.
Scripture: “The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground” – Genesis 4: 10b
Reflection: The earth today is covered with innocent blood, which cries out from the ground to the God who made it. But thanks be to God, there is another Blood that cries out to heaven more eloquently. The cry of the blood of Christ brings mercy to those who shed the blood of their brothers and sisters. The shed Blood of Christ teaches the meaning of love, which is to sacrifice oneself for the good of the other person. It reverses the dynamic of the culture of death, which sacrifices the other person for the good of oneself. The Blood of Christ gives us the strength to carry out the great campaign on behalf of life. – Fr. Frank Pavone in “Ending Abortion”
Prayer: God and Father of Life, you have created every human person, and have opened the way for each to have eternal life. We live in the shadow of death, tens of millions of your children have been killed because of the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion. And, since New Mexico has no laws restricting abortion, how many children have been killed in Santa Teresa, a community named after Saint Teresa, since the Women’s Reproductive Clinic opened? How many have crossed the state line from El Paso to bypass Texas restrictions? Father, have mercy on us. Heal our land, our nation, our State, our City. Accept our offering of prayer and penance. In your love for us, turn back the scourge of abortion, and close down the Women’s Reproductive Clinic and Planned Parenthood facility. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
