Word to the Wise
Friday, July 14, 2023 - Friday in the 14th Week in Ordinary Time
[Gen 46:1-7, 28-30 and Matt 10:16-23]"Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death." [Matthew]
JULY 14 ST. KATERI TEKAKWITHA
One of the saddest predictions in the missionary discourse in the Gospel According to Matthew is the one regarding division in families because of faith. Although Matthew has reported Jesus' prediction, the passage no doubt reflected the actual experience of the first missionaries at the time of the writing. Unfortunately, the prediction has continued to be fulfilled over and over again all around the world. It is a very sad irony that the gospel of peace can be a source of conflict because humans have terrible problems with the way they regard faith.
In my pastoral experience students have reported to me the very hard disapproval of their parents in regard to becoming a Catholic. At the same time I have heard Catholic parents lamenting that their children no longer practice their faith. Baptisms and confirmations are important events in a Catholic family, and when these do not take place, sadness and resentment arise. My usual advice to these parents and grandparents is to continue to practice their own faith and not to nag or scold. To the students I advise a consistent but kind response to parents and friends who disapprove their becoming Catholic. Faithful witness, as Jesus teaches, is the best response, not hostile attitudes. AMEN