The Foundation of Societies and Generations

Prayer-Soldier

The Foundation of Societies and Generations

Scripture:

Children, hear the judgment of your father, and so do that you may be saved. For God has made the father honorable to the children: and seeking the judgment of the mothers, has confirmed it upon the children. He that loves God, shall obtain pardon for his sins by prayer, and shall refrain himself from them, and shall be heard in the prayer of days. And he that honors his mother is as one that lays up a treasure. He that honors his father shall have joy in his own children, and in the day of his prayer he shall be heard.

Son, support the old age of your father, and grieve him not in his life; and if his understanding fail, have patience with him, and despise him not when you are in your strength: for the relieving of the father shall not be forgotten.
(Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14)

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy, and beloved, the depths of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience: Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if any have a complaint against another: even as the Lord has forgiven you, so do you also. But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection: And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one body: and be thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you abundantly, in all wisdom: teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing in grace in your hearts to God. All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Wives, be subject to your husbands, as it behooves in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter towards them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to indignation, lest they be discouraged.
(Colossians 3:12-21)

And his parents went every year to Jerusalem, at the solemn day of the pasch, And when he was twelve years old, they going up into Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast, and having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not. And thinking that he was in the company, they came the journey of a day, and sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance. And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking him.

And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his wisdom and his answers. And seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: Son, why have you done so to us? Behold your father and I have sought you sorrowing. And he said to them: How is it that you sought me? Did you not know, that I must be about the business of my father? And they understood not the word that he spoke unto them.

And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom, and age, and grace with God and men.
(Luke 2:41-52)

Reflection:

The bond of family is the foundation of civilization. The generations come from the joining of man and woman as one flesh by which children are brought into the world to grow and mature to assume the vocation to which they are called to nurture families yet to come. No matter our vocation, whether we are single, married, or religious; we hold a membership within a family and, therefore, a responsibility to its bond.

Our place within the family morphs over time. We begin as one dependent upon mother and father. As time passes and we mature, so too, will our role within. The day may come where mother and father will be dependent upon us as age begins its toll. There may be a time we are part of the strength of the family. There may be a time where we are dependent upon that strength.

As love is shared within a family, so shall love flow from the family for the blessings of those which surround them. As love is absent within a family, so shall the blessings of the family be diminished to those which surround them. It is for this reason God calls us to love and respect father and mother and for father and mother, in partnership; to care for, teach, and encourage their children; for it is from family that the generations are formed, grow, and mature. Societies which allow the disruption and destruction of families sow the seeds for their own ill fate.

If we are to share in familial love, we must first look within ourselves. If we see within us the pollution of selfish desires, then, we must look to God to help us change what is within us so we are strengthened to turn away from that which causes us to harm others and turn to that which enables us to care for others and to fulfill His commandments of love.

Our growth does not come through the service of our desires, but by the service of what God desires of us. Within each of us, our Creator has placed gifts and talents to be shared. If we look to Him for the purpose to which such gifts may be put, we will discover how we may help to accomplish His will; a will of eternal love. As we share of ourselves within our family, we practice for the time we may extend ourselves beyond the family and for the blessings of others. If we allow God to lead us in our sharing, we mature with each experience and we experience the blessings to which He calls us to share.

Questions for further reflection:

In what ways do we demonstrate our love of God through the love we give our parents?

In what ways do we prepare ourselves to do the will of God through the love, honor, and respect we share within our family?

In what ways may we draw strength from within the family to extend our love beyond our family?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier