Before Jesus Died, What He told Us

Before Jesus Died, What He Told Us

Eileen Renders

   The 4th Commandment commands us to “Honor thy Father and thy Mother.” We learn all of these Commandments as we are growing up and in school. It is part of our Studies before making the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Holy Communion, and Confirmation. Therefore, we grow up recognizing that as children in our mother and father’s house, we must respect them and obey their rules. Often under the threat from our dad that if we do not obey the rules, we will be punished.

   John Verse 19:26 Now standing by the Cross Jesus saw His beloveds, His mother and the disciple John, He said: ”Woman, behold thy son, referring to John the Apostle. And then He said to John; “Behold thy mother.” Jesus in that moment allowed us to call Mary the mother of God, our mother. He also asked John to take Mary as his mother as He was dying on the Cross. John indeed did take Mary the mother of God into his home as his mother.

   Yet we see as parents, and understand when our children become of age and live independently in their own homes, they are entitled to live their lives making their choices and decisions based on their free will, as God has given all of us that privilege.

   However, in today’s world, there is much misunderstanding between parents and adult children as to boundaries and respect. Therefore, I would like for us to all examine the words Jesus said in His last hour to Mary, His mother, and also to John His beloved Apostle. Jesus wanted all of us to welcome Mary as our mother and to be able to call on her through prayer in our time of need, knowing how she loves us all. And in asking John to treat His mother as his own, we have heard how John took Mary into his home as his mother after the death of Jesus.

   We must recognize that in this era, people are very concerned about Health Insurance that will provide for Nursing Homes, and Hospices as a way of taking care of mom or dad. If that is affordable and where mom and dad go is safe and what they want, housing to care for our mom and dad. Our parents, lived with one of their children, that was a given. Is everyone well insured today, or are they not inviting their parents into their homes during their last few years? Jesus was directing John to take care of His mother, and John did so.

   We must realize that this responsibility is part of the 4th Commandment. Loving and respecting our mom or dad requires love and commitment.

   Our parent gave of their time, their energy, their money, and all of their love to raise us to grow and mature spiritually. Do we not owe them something in return?

   Disagreements, contention, and asserting one’s self often cause estrangement between a parent and an adult child. Loving and respecting our parents does not require that we obey their thoughts, desires, or opinions. It does require, however, that we recognize they are still our moms and dads and have our best interests at heart. Therefore, we can avoid all tension and disruption in our relationships by “respecting” their concern advising politely, and going about making our own choices as we all have free will.

   Arguing about right and wrong is best handled by agreeing that choices are not always right or wrong, sometimes they are just “different.”