The readings of today invites us to reflect on the smallest but vital organ of the society called the Family. Each society is a reflection of the different types of families that such a society has. The family therefore plays a vital role in determining the values of her society to a large extent. It is in this light that the mother church refers to the family as the “Domestic Church,” the first place where a child learns values and principles of life. Thus we may be right to say a good family is a good seed for a healthy society and vice versa. As we reflect on the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, we need to ask ourselves what sort of child, mother or father am I?
Beginning with the book of Sirach we have here so much to take home today. It is about the respect that must be accorded to parents. “It begins by saying the Lord honoured the father above the children and he confirmed the right of the mother over her children.” Ours is a society that tries to project otherwise the place of parenting. Friends in Christ, parenting is a vital tool for a healthy society. God didn’t give any parent that privileged position to be toiled with but to become a means of modelling those entrusted to them. This leads to the question, as a mother or father what products I my giving to the society. How serious have we taken our parenting roles?
Today, some parents have rejected the fact that they are placed above their children to be mentors to them. They do not caution, advice nor care about the welfare of the children spiritually, morally, emotionally and intellectually. Unfortunately, we are neglecting our parenting roles in the name of civilisation and living our children to be modelled by nannies, peer groups and tutors. There is no longer a father-child or mother-child intimacy. We hardly know what our children are capable of doing. We need a rethink here. Mary and Joseph modelled their son Jesus in the ways of God. If we do not model our children with good values and knit them in Christ, someday we shall be the ones to cry.
This books goes on to address children. Respect to parents is key. As children we must learn not just to respect our parents but elders in general. This comes with a blessing; for the book of Sirach says “whoever honours his father atones for sins and preserves himself from them. When he prays he is heard and same with his mother...he will be gladdened by his children..he will have long life.” If we the youth today are not blessed, if our prayers are not storming the throne of God in heaven, then we should ask ourselves the treatment we give to elders and to our parents. Respect to elders elongate the life of a young person and brings spiritual blessings upon such a soul.
We are losing a lot of youths today to death because of disrespect to parents and elders. They failed to listen when spoken to and landed themselves in situations that led them to their early graves. This disrespect to parents and elders could be the reason why many of us are not having stable homes. We need to beg God for forgiveness. It may also not be far fetched based on the readings, why parents today bury their children instead of the reverse. The youth like Jesus must learn to respect their parents and elders who though was God never disobeyed or disrespected his parents. We must learn to be with them in their old age and support them. God says “..such kindness will never be forgiven.” Many of us are forgotten by God because we have treated our parents in their old age with scorn and dishonour. We feel so ashamed of them because of what we have become or simply because we have opportunities to mingle with friends. We forget that whatever we have become they laboured and sowed the seeds. Our parents and elders should be our pride that God will not forget us.
Such a home is possible when it is built on the qualities outlined in the second reading by St. Paul; namely: holiness, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness and patience, forbearing one another and forgiveness. If we refuse to imbibe and cultivate these virtues in us, we shall continue to have a society with no respect for the human person, a society that promotes war and not peace, broken relationships, failed marriages, wayward children and rascals. If we do not take care to be godly as families even the good leadership qualities we seek shall not come through. Because a good leader learns good values from his/her home. We need to sanitise the home. Governments must continue to give families the needed attention that they will produce good results for a healthy society to strive.
As parents, let us not become tired of sacrificing for the good of our children as Mary and Joseph did in the gospel text. Our sacrifices will never go in vain. We must learn to protect our kids from the hazards of “civiliasation” the internet, homosexuality, drugs, indiscipline, malice, individualism, corruption, dishonesty, sense of ingratitude, disrespect, hatred, terrorism, alcoholism and so many other vices that are killing our society today.
We pray with the psalmist, that all families who fear the Lord will continue to walk in the ways of the Lord and those who are yet close to the realisation of this goal will receive conversation. May God bless the labours of good homes, may wives continue to be fruitful vines in various homes, and children shoots of olive for us the entire world, may God bless us from above and make families to prosper in good deeds and may Jesus our saviour, Mary his mother and Joseph his father continue to intercede for us now and always amen.
Let us heal the family by healing what has to be healed in our homes and the world will be healed as well. Happy Sunday!