By Dr Jeanette Pinto –
Every evening around 6 pm there is an unusual flutter in the sky and as we look up we see the birds circling doing their last rounds before heading for the coming home. The time of dusk is a restless time when they leave all their pursuits of searching for food and water and return home to their nests. They must feel a great joy in coming home to rest and ease their tired wings and bodies. The same applies to mankind when after the travails of commute, the day’s hassles and work are over we return home. Home is a place where we can feel warm love and suffuse joy. It kind of gives pleasure to be back within the comfort zone of a roof above and a bed to rest until it is time to go to sleep.
When our loved one returns to their Creator, we speak of them as ‘they have finally gone home.’ They have been pilgrims on the journey of life, which is not the same for all. However, we believe that everyone spends living the life according to God’s plan and then it is time to return home.
Most often when we return home we would like to get something for the family. A father perhaps thinks of a toy for his children, a mother something to eat or what they would delight in. If one is returning home after a long spell of travel that person would like to bring home a speciality, perhaps something much loved or enjoyed most of the family, or even if it be a small gift. What do we take home to our Father in Heaven? Surely He is waiting to welcome us when we return home to Heaven. Did not Jesus say, “There are many rooms in my father’s Kingdom which I will prepare for you.”
What gift do I take home? A genteel lady who has spent her life raising her seven children with love and devotion would take her gentleness home. She has spent the ups and downs of life working hard, attending to her family giving off her time and energy to her loved ones. Surely she has worked for the kingdom of God. A teacher, who spent her entire life in teaching with love and devotion – the values that she learned from the Bible and from life, would take her labour of love, home. A missionary who left his homeland, travelled far and dedicated his life to empower tribal folk in another land would take that sacrifice home. Every small act that is done for the glory of God and His kingdom is what you would take back home.
All of us are given the opportunity to take something back home to the Father. We are all blessed with talents and gifts to use on this earthly journey. We have been given a mission, namely to proclaim Jesus to the world. We have a duty to know, love and live Jesus. He is the Universal King. How are we fulfilling our mission?
Every single day presents us with many opportunities and situations. It is a matter of choosing what and how to seize them. There would be some people who in moments of reflection would look back on life and wonder whether they were pro-life in their actions. One may reflect: ‘Did I support my teenage friend not to abort her baby in her pregnancy? Abortion kills human life. A baby is a baby- a human person. Did I encourage and help her to choose life.’
Another may ask herself ‘Did I value the life of the old man living next door? Or did I do anything to reach out and help him in his daily needs since he lived alone.’ Yet another may say, “My friend was depressed and lonely. What did I do to help him?” Other thoughts to reflect on could be how much did I value the people around me? Could I not visit the housebound neighbours?
Everyone has the right to life; however there is a culture of death that pervades society. Am I a champion of life? Or did I look the other way when I saw a handicapped person, an old lady crossing the street, the blind girl begging. How did I bring peace or solace to parents of a mentally challenged child? You can make a difference in the lives of others by your pro-life acts.
These and many more thoughts come to mind. Most people are not anti-life but are complacent with the lives they lead. The ‘I, Me, My’ is a widespread attitude. Why worry about the rest of the world, I have enough to handle. What can I do to turn the tide in this culture? The simple answer is to be life – giving in all your words and actions thus influencing the family, friends and community and all those around you. Be a living witness, create within you a Pro-life heart.
This is the month of those who have returned to the Father. We pray for their souls. It’s also a time to think of what I will take back to the Father. If you have a Pro-life heart you have a wealth of gifts to return in your coming home to Abba Father.
Dr Jeanette Pinto, an educator for the past 5 decades, headed the Department of History was Vice Principal of St. Xavier’s College Mumbai, and retired as Principal of Sophia College, Mumbai. She is a counsellor and conductor of Personal Enrichment Programmes for students and teachers.
She set up the Human Life Committee in the Archdiocese of Bombay. As a sex educator she has given talks on Human Sexuality in India and abroad. In 2014 she received the Rachana Outstanding Woman of the Year for her Pro-life work presented by the Diocese of Mangalore. She has attended many National and International Pro-life conferences and given talks at other fora on various women’s issues.
She is author of a couple of books, her most recent ones are titled: I’m Pro-Life Are you? & Sex Talk: Parent to Child. She has also written a number of articles on a variety of themes and subjects, which have been published in research journals, The Examiner and other Catholic publications.