“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
The Gospel According to John 14:1-4
Terri Schiavo has joined the Church Triumphant. Her human suffering has ended and the focus of our prayers now turns to her grieving parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, sister, Suzanne, and Bobby, her brother.
We must also pray for those who contributed in any way — no matter how minor, whether by commission or omission — to Terri’s death, in accordance with Jesus’ directive that we pray for our enemies. The long list of folks who contributed to this tragedy begins with Michael Schiavo, his attorney, George Felos, and Judge George Greer, but extends all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. However well-meaning those persons who refused to take action to prevent Terri’s death might have been, they all bear varying degrees of complicity in her murder and will stand in judgment one day.
I extend my personal condolences to Bob, Mary, Suzanne, and Bobby: I hope that in the days to come, you will find the peace that passes all understanding and take comfort in the knowledge that you did all you could to save your precious Terri. You have been examples of strength, compassion, and unconditional love to all of us, in the same way that Florence Wendland fought courageously for her son, Robert. Terri did not die in vain. Because of your efforts, many other people will be saved. And Terri’s legacy will ultimately be, like Robert’s, a legacy of life.
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