Conservative MP Richard Bragdon gave an eloquent and moving speech in the House of Commons on February 13, 2023 in support of the bill that would delay the expansion of MAiD to those suffering from mental illness alone (C-39).
He quoted Psalm 23:4.
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;"
MP Bragdon continued by saying, "There is hope that when we are traversing the very valley of the shadow of death, we can pass through and come out on the other side. There is hope for those who are battling mental illness, depression and anxiety; though it may feel permanent in the moment, there are many people who have traversed that valley and come out with hope and light again in their hearts and souls." He said this is because someone lit a candle in their night that brought hope.
MP Bragdon ends by exhorting his colleagues in the house, "Let's bring hope. Let's bring life. Let's not encourage death or a culture of death. Let's foster a culture of hope and life for those who so desperately need it.
We want to encourage you to live out that second great commandment of Jesus, to love your neighbour as yourself (Mark 12:31). When people lose hope, they give up. They give up on relationships; they give up on finances. Negative emotions set in and they can give up on life. As the church, we are the hope specialists. Our God is the God of hope and he fills us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him, so that we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom 15:13). As members like Richard Bragdon urge his friends in Parliament to deliver legislation that releases hope and life, let us carry that same hope and life to our communities.
Prayer Points
Pray for continued wisdom to apply God’s truth in this forum of developing legislation and that the wisdom of the Bible would become accepted again as an authority regarding making policy to grow a thriving nation.
Pray for MP Richard Bragdon and others of faith like him that they will be salt and light in Parliament. Pray that they will model honor even when holding differing opinions. Pray that they would be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:19-20).
Pray that the body of Christ would devotedly show God's love to those in their communities especially the vulnerable and the needy.
Amen!!