Let’s always honor our parents

LET’S never forget the fourth commandment. In fact, with

the current temper of the times, we have to reintensify our observance

of this commandment that seems to be taken for granted nowadays for a

number of reasons.

             For one, there seems to be a generalized weakening of

family life in the world today. More parents are getting alienated

from their children and vice-versa due to some developments whose

impact on family life is not well considered.

  

            There are some laws that actually undermine family life,

such as the law on abortion, etc. And there are now many aspects of

our social and professional life that contribute to this weakening of

family life.

             We have to remind everyone that the honor, respect,

obedience we owe to our parents is due first of all by the fact that

they are our first connection with God. It was through them that God

put us into existence.

  

            We have to remember that we all come from God, and not

only from our parents. When we see our parents, we have to learn to

see God immediately behind them. They are the first representative of

God to us.

  

            Yes, they all have their share of weaknesses, mistakes and

sins, some of them grave, but all these do not and cannot detract from

the fact that they are our procreators who cooperated with the Creator

in bringing us to life.

             They may even beget children through the commission of a

crime, like rape. But that again does not take away the truth that

they have been an instrument of God in putting a person into

existence.

  

            A child is not only a biological being. He has a spiritual

soul even while he is still at the first stage of fertilization and

gestation. That is why a fertilized human egg is not just a matter of

cells. He is already a person with a human spiritual soul.

  

            Parents, of course, should try their best to realize

deeply the dignity and the serious responsibility they have. They

should not play around with their status as parents.

  

            But as far as the children are concerned, they are

duty-bound to honor and love their parents. St. Paul already spoke

clearly about this duty: “Children, obey your parents because you

belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do.” (Eph 6,1) And,

“Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing

unto the Lord.” (Col 3,20)

  

            Children should try their best to make their parents happy

all the time. They should avoid as much as possible to give them

problems, especially the unnecessary ones. They should be quick to

lend a hand in the house chores. They should prepare themselves for

the time when they will have to take care of their parents in their

old age.

             Inculcating this duty in the mind and heart of the

children is crucial because this is the first step that everyone

learns how to obey other legitimate authorities. Let’s remember that

we as social beings, let alone political ones also, always have to be

subject to some authority, and it is important that we know how to be

subject to authority.

  

            Everyone should be reminded that any legitimate authority

we have in this life is always a participation in the authority of

God. Consider the following words of St. Paul:

             “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all

authority comes from God and those in positions of authority have been

placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is

rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished…”

(Rom 13,1-2)

            So, it’s clear that the commandment of honoring our

parents, our first authority on earth, paves the way to our proper

submission to the other authorities in our life.