Feast of the Holy Family

I love the passage from today's 1st reading in Sirach (3:2-6, 12-14) which encourages good and healthy family relationships.   I encourage you to spend a few minutes prayerfully reflecting on the passage below.    

God sets a father in honor over his children;
a mother's authority he confirms over her sons.
Whoever honors his father atones for sins,
and preserves himself from them.
When he prays, he is heard;
he stores up riches who reveres his mother.
Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children,
and, when he prays, is heard.
Whoever reveres his father will live a long life;
he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother.

My son, take care of your father when he is old;
grieve him not as long as he lives.
Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him;
revile him not all the days of his life;
kindness to a father will not be forgotten,
firmly planted against the debt of your sins
--a house raised in justice to you.

What do you see in the passage?  What "touches" you?  I especially love the tender care that adult children are asked to have for their elderly parents in the last verses, though this could apply just as well to taking solicitous care of the very young or others with special or extraordinary needs.    Attached to these verses are promises of long life (Ephesians 6:2 mentions that the command to honor one's parents is the first commandment with a promise) and a sort of "cancellation" of the debt of your sins.    In other words, this passage helps me to  recall that taking good care of your family and neighbors is a good thing, and the author is expressing the oft-experienced reality that there is a special blessedness which comes with loving actions toward those who deserve our consideration and respect.    Often that blessedness and freedom comes from the attitude of our own hearts.  When we look with reverence to those in our lives, our parents, our guardians and teachers, our children, friends and other community members who we know are cooperating the best that they are able to make this world a loving, abundant and safe place to live, we are suddenly filled with the grace of a grateful heart.  Shall we read the passage one more time?

God sets a father in honor over his children;
a mother's authority he confirms over her sons.
Whoever honors his father atones for sins,
and preserves himself from them.
When he prays, he is heard;
he stores up riches who reveres his mother.
Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children,
and, when he prays, is heard.
Whoever reveres his father will live a long life;
he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother.

My son, take care of your father when he is old;
grieve him not as long as he lives.
Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him;
revile him not all the days of his life;
kindness to a father will not be forgotten,
firmly planted against the debt of your sins
--a house raised in justice to you.

Let's take a moment to thank God for the people in our life who have guided us in the past and are guiding us today, and if we are ourself a mother, a father, teacher, a caregiver,  ask the Lord for the grace to lead with consideration and respect for the dignity of those who are in our care.  

May God Bless you and all of your holy families!

Peace and Love,
Gazelle Johnson