Excerpt from May 13, 2007, Mother's Day sermon by the Rev. Robert Taylor, Rector of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Tequesta.

So, this Mother's Day when I look back on those times years ago when my wife Marlene gave birth to our children in a clean, well-staffed hospital , attended to by highly qualified nurses and an excellent doctor, I give thanks for the care she received. The probability that she would be healthy and safe in bringing our children healthfully and safely into this world was great. The experience resulted in joy and fulfillment.

Yet, today I contrast our happiness then with the dangerous reality which faces so many women now in their experience of giving birth. Taking information from www.one.org, I learned that "more than 500,000 mothers die each year from complications during child birth , and tens of millions more suffer from pregnancy related illnesses and injuries. Health systems in poor countries around the world are rapidly deteriorating, and in some cases, have failed completely. Young children and pregnant women bear the brunt of these inadequate health systems. While women in developed countries have a 1 in 2,800 chance of dying in child-birth, women in Africa have a 1 in 20 chance, and in several countries the lifetime risk exceeds 1 in 10. The reason for this gross disparity is the lack of access to skilled professional care and basic equipment like the drugs and supplies needed for a safe delivery."

But the means to prevent nearly all of these deaths exist. The problem is that people in these less developed areas of the world do not have access to the vaccines and basic maternal services required. There are not enough qualified doctors, nurses and midwives to staff hospitals and health centers. Sterile supplies and basic equipment , adequate funding and other necessities of a strong health system are lacking. For reasons such as these, parents in poor countries face the fear and sorrow of high infant and mother fatality rather than the high likelihood of joy in giving birth as we in our lives do. What do we feel for other people who face such fear and sorrow? What are we called to do?

Jesus Christ calls us to reach out to those in pain whether they are close to us or far away. In the Story of the Good Samaritan Jesus holds out the example of a foreigner who cares for, and helps, a man in great need. What might we, who enjoy the benefits of a modern health system, do to come to the aid of those who do not?

WE might join ONE in supporting the reintroduction of the CHILD Act, which would double current U.S. funding for child survival and maternal health programs abroad, in developing countries. Our church can provide funds for supporting efforts which provide healthy environments for women and children in the world's poorest countries. Let's put our heart into bringing life to those who now live with far too much death. They are God's beloved children as much as we are. They should be enabled to enjoy the joy and thankfulness of Mother's Day no less than we do.