Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, bishops
(II Timothy 1:1-8; Mark 3:31-35)
Although a few people have independently chosen to follow Christ, most Christians today are born into families that regularly went to church. These men and women may question the authenticity of their belief because they did not personally choose to be baptized. Nevertheless, when pressed, most are likely to say that they are grateful to have been raised as Christians. They reason that without developing early the habits of fearing God and going to church, they probably would have lost the way to all the satisfaction being a Christian gives.
Families are so important for faith that we sometimes think that families are of the highest value to faith. But they are not. In one passage Jesus tells a would-be disciple that he cannot go back to take leave of his family. In today’s gospel Jesus claims as his true family not his blood relations but those who pursue a spiritual relationship with God, his Father.
So then how should we regard our families? Certainly most families are owed a debt of gratitude for having provided us the physical means to grow up. Where families have fallen short of God’s ways, however – perhaps by teaching us to hate certain kinds of people or by telling us that we are deficient if we do not measure up to an exterior standard -- we must have the integrity to say, “That’s not me.”
Showing posts with label faith and family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faith and family. Show all posts
Homilette for Friday, August 21, 2009
Memorial of St. Pius X, pope
(Ruth 1:1.3-6.14b-66.22; Matthew 22:34-40)
The story of Ruth and Naomi from the first reading today is dear to Christians for at least two reasons. It demonstrates the importance of family to faith, and it relates part of the lineage of Jesus.
Sometimes young parents brought up as Catholic do not to baptize their infant children. When queried about their practice, they say that they don’t want to prejudice their children’s faith. That is, they want their children to make their own choices regarding religion. It probably does not occur to them that they are indeed prejudicing their children away from Catholic belief. After all, we believe that Baptism is the key to eternal life. Not baptizing infants and not bringing children to church relay the message that religion is not really important, that Baptism has little to do with eternal life, and possibly that eternal life is really a myth symbolizing the good life one wishes to live in the world. Ruth in today's Old Testament reading would no doubt disagree vehemently with these ideas. Family ties keep her close to the God of Israel. Or is it that the God of Israel keeps her close to her family? It is hard to say given the strong interconnection between family and religion.
Christians owe a huge debt to Ruth. Her dedication to the God of Israel leads her to marry Boaz. The two give birth to Obed, the grandfather of David, king of Israel, whose descendant is Joseph. Joseph, the husband of Mary, gives Jesus his name and his royal lineage.
(Ruth 1:1.3-6.14b-66.22; Matthew 22:34-40)
The story of Ruth and Naomi from the first reading today is dear to Christians for at least two reasons. It demonstrates the importance of family to faith, and it relates part of the lineage of Jesus.
Sometimes young parents brought up as Catholic do not to baptize their infant children. When queried about their practice, they say that they don’t want to prejudice their children’s faith. That is, they want their children to make their own choices regarding religion. It probably does not occur to them that they are indeed prejudicing their children away from Catholic belief. After all, we believe that Baptism is the key to eternal life. Not baptizing infants and not bringing children to church relay the message that religion is not really important, that Baptism has little to do with eternal life, and possibly that eternal life is really a myth symbolizing the good life one wishes to live in the world. Ruth in today's Old Testament reading would no doubt disagree vehemently with these ideas. Family ties keep her close to the God of Israel. Or is it that the God of Israel keeps her close to her family? It is hard to say given the strong interconnection between family and religion.
Christians owe a huge debt to Ruth. Her dedication to the God of Israel leads her to marry Boaz. The two give birth to Obed, the grandfather of David, king of Israel, whose descendant is Joseph. Joseph, the husband of Mary, gives Jesus his name and his royal lineage.
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