Denver Catholic

19 DENVER CATHOLIC | NOVEMBER 26-DECEMBER 9, 2016 Building a culture of life in Colorado T here's no reason for a woman to have an abortion in Colo- rado, which has been legal for decades. And there's no reason for anyone to take their own life through physi- cian-as- sisted suicide, which was approved by Colorado voters as Proposition 106 on Nov. 8. Just because something is legal doesn't make it right. And just because you have that choice doesn't mean you should choose it. Abortion and euthanasia are two of the "non-negotiables" that Catholics must never endorse or participate in. Not only do we stand against the culture of death, no matter what, but we are called by Our Lord Jesus Christ to defend life from conception to natural death. So if you, or someone you know, is contemplating abortion or consid- ering euthanasia, Catholic Charities stands ready to help. We will care for those individuals in crisis, or find help for them. I ask that you join us through prayer, volunteerism and financial support. A great way to do that is to schedule a donation to Catholic Char- ities at coloradogives.org/ccdenver in advance of Colorado Gives Day on Tuesday, Dec. 6. The only way to defeat the culture of death is to be a people of life. That's why Catholic Charities is building a continuum of care throughout north- ern Colorado. To see all that we're doing to serve children and vulnera- ble people of all ages, go to our web- site (ccdenver.org) and also sign up for our Charity Works publication. For a woman experiencing an unintended pregnancy, Catholic Charities not only provides counsel- ing and compassion, we provide her with medical care through Marisol Health (marisolhealth.com) before and after the birth of her child. We can also meet her needs for diapers, formula and baby clothes, as well as provide shelter, educational oppor- tunities and job training. We can provide everything that an expectant mother needs not only to give life to her child, but to have a life with her child. Those at the end of life should know about Divine Mercy Supportive Care (dmsci.org), a Colorado-based Catholic non-profit agency that provides palliative and hospice care that is "always consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church," while "available for persons of any religious belief." They provide people at the end of life with loving, merciful and compassionate care. Everyone facing end-of-life decisions deserves the dignity that God gave them to live through to the natural end. The continuum of care from conception to natural death is not about being Catholic, it's about being human. We care for everyone not because they're Catholic, but because we're Catholic. The Catholic Church has always served the most vulnerable in the spirit of the Good Samaritan. To repeat, there's no reason to take the life of a child in the womb through abortion, or for anyone to take their own life through euthanasia. Char- ity is really about helping those who need it most. If you are in a desperate situation, you may think that there's no one to take care of you. Or that you can't handle the pain. Or that you're totally alone. We will take care of you. When you've lost hope, call us. We're the hope in Jesus Christ. Guest Column Larry Smith is the president and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Denver. Visit online at ccdenver. org or call 303-742-0828 to learn more, volunteer or make a donation. LARRY SMITH Embrace the waiting this Advent F ive years ago, one of my daugh- ters desperately needed open heart surgery. Newly adopted and four-years-old, her heart defects were the result of having been born with Down syndrome. The doctors all said that she should have had this surgery when she was much younger, but that was simply not an option in the country of her birth. So there we sat in the hospital on a chilly December morning, my husband and me, praying and waiting. Waiting for an update from the nurse on how things were going, waiting to hear that my daughter had been placed on the bypass machine, and waiting for the surgeon to finally emerge with news that, miracle of all miracles, the sur- gery had been successful. After so very much waiting, my daughter's heart was repaired. As a mother to nine children, my waiting is of course not limited to dra- matic situations in dimly-lit hospital rooms. I wait for sleepy kids to finish breakfast so we can rush o‹ to school, I wait for them to put their pajamas on (and drink their hundredth glass of water) before I tuck them into bed at night, and I selfishly wait for them to reach milestones that promise to make my own life a little bit easier—although it turns out that each new stage brings its own unique challenges. Who knew? I also spend a fair amount of time waiting at soccer games and swim meets, and in the car outside of our church each week until my eldest finally emerges, with her friends of course, from youth group. But for as much as I do it, I really don't like to wait. It feels stressful, and ine–cient. Waiting necessitates not only a quieting of the heart and mind, but also the acknowledgment that there are (gasp!) things outside of my control. And then there is the not knowing. How will things turn out, what will this look like, will there be su‹ering mixed with the joy? I sit and worry over chal- lenges my children face (not least of which is the reality of growing up in an increasingly coarse and confused cul- ture), or I fret about friends and family who are sick or struggling. I inadver- tently take my eyes o‹ of Jesus, and my heart fills with anxious thoughts about a future I cannot see. More than ever, then, I desperately need Advent. It is a liturgical season entirely predicated upon this notion of expectation, and waiting, for Jesus. And not only that, but Advent calls us to penance, reflection, and silence, things that are hard to come by in our modern time. We must place our trust in the hope of what is to come, while we wait.† As di–cult as it all is, this is actu- ally one of the biggest blessings of Advent—being still and watching God's plans unfold, with the expectation that no matter what, it will be good. Not necessarily easy, happy, or what I would choose, but certainly part of my journey toward holiness. If I can continue to trust and to love, and to remember that I am (in the words of St. Teresa of Calcutta) merely a pencil in God's hand, I open myself up to the astounding and per- fect work of the Lord. When I accept my vocation and all of the accompa- nying joys and sorrows, I become like Mary when she was visited by the Angel Gabriel at the Annunciation— not just giving my fiat or yes to the one specific thing being asked of me, but to whatever may lie ahead as a result. Unknowns and all. Without condition. It is, however, hard to enter into Advent and tune out the voices of the world, especially during this frenzied time of year. I am prone to becoming distracted, overwhelmed by what the perfectionistic culture expects from super-moms (think elaborately crafted gingerbread houses, perfectly baked cookies, and getting all of your Christmas shopping done early). So it is all the more necessary to carve out time to simply love and to simply be, both individually and as a family. This can be time spent at home reading good books or playing a game, saying (even just a decade) of a family rosary, or singing an Advent hymn. Your plans don't have to be perfect or even particularly extensive to make for a good and holy Advent—remember that God asks for our hearts and for our best, and he knows we have sea- sons of life that are harder than others. And unlike the world's shallow, sac- charine-sweet version of the holidays, Advent makes space for loneliness and su‹ering. Also, for tired moms. Advent gives us hope, as we prepare our hearts for the Savior who came into the world as a small and defenseless baby. Advent gives us courage to continue to give our yes, in the way of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our waiting, even in a hospital room, is suddenly redeemed by the love and mercy of Jesus in Advent. Guest Column Brianna Heldt is a Catholic writer, speaker and podcaster. Her work has appeared in various print and online publications. BRIANNA HELDT

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