“One giant leap for mankind.” That is how astronaut Neil Armstrong described his first step on the moon in 1969.

Today, June 24, 2022, the church celebrates another giant leap for humankind – the overturn of the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the United States. The legal rights of an entire segment of human life, that had been denied for almost 50 years, have now been restored.

Today also happens to be the day the church celebrates the nativity of St. John the Baptist, whose leap in the womb of his mother Elizabeth inspired many to fight for the rights of unborn children:

“In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, [40] and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. [41] And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, [42] and she exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! [43] And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? [44] For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.'” (Luke 1:39-44)

Oh, and, by the way, early this morning before sunrise there was a rare alignment of the moon and the five planets that are visible to the naked eye.

Click here for a prayer from Deaconess Tiffany Manor on this historic day.