Family and Bible Values
Family
values deployed in the Bible. Rather, biblical values deployed in the family.
Values, not sentimentality. “First, let me bury my father.” “Let the dead bury
the dead.” Ultimate obligation, even in our time and age, to bury one’s
parents. Jesus’ answer a slap in the face!
“Blessed
is the womb, and the breasts...” “Rather, blessed are….” Jesus’ answer does not
deny the blessedness of the womb. What is the destiny of the child in the womb
and the babe at the breast?
Old
Testament. Hannah, mother of Samuel. She prayed at the temple of Shiloh,
begging the Lord for a son. Samuel – “begging the Lord.” When the baby was
weaned, Hannah gave him to the holy man at Shiloh, named Eli. After praying so
much for a son, she offers him back to God.
Child
Jesus in the Temple. After three days of agonizing search. “Son, why have you
treated us so?” “Why were you long for me?” Obvious, he belonged to God.
Children belong to God.
Abraham
and his son, Isaac. “Sacrifice to me the son you love.” Isaac, bearer of the
promise and future of the race,…to be slaughtered. Awful story of radical
demand. God has no feelings? Is God playing games with a child’s life? No sentimentality
here, either. Isaac belongs ultimately to God.
“But
my children are mine!” Really? Well up to a point in their history. You have to
let them go to find their way in the world, choose their avocation, their life
partner. And in the midst of all that they belong to a higher power, a
transcendent Parent with an enlivening purpose. Ultimately, nothing is yours. You
don’t even belong to yourself.
One
day Jesus was relaxing under a tree, tired and breathless. The mothers began
bringing their children to him. Peter objected. But Jesus said, “Let the little
children come to me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. To be a child is to
have your passport endorsed for heaven. “’Tana’, your sins are forgiven.” “Unless
you become like little children….”
Turn
everything to God. Let God take over. What is the purpose of your life? The purpose
of your life is for God to take over your life.
Recently
canonized St. Pope John Paul II used to call the family the “ecclesiola” – the little
church. How shall we foster biblical family values? a) Read the bible, especially the New
Testament; b) family rosary: contemplation of the mysteries of Christ while
reciting the Hail Mary’s.
There
are different avocations and vocations: office worker, manager, factory worker,
medical and legal profession, street cleaner, teacher (Jesus was teacher par excellence), street cleaner, armed
forces and police, crime busters, garbage collectors and politicians (very
often they go together). But the
noblest vocation is parenthood. No parenthood
- no priesthood. Dear parents, give us your sons. If you don’t, the holy Mass
will stop.
Let
me end with MY story. Baptized that baby, I raised him to the statue of our
Blessed Mother, and forgot about it. After 28 years I get from Australia a
beautiful invitation to his priestly ordination.
