Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time.
My dear Parishioners,
Peace! There are ten (10) “In Brief” articles in the Catechism of the Catholic Church addressing the Fourth Commandment of the Decalogue, ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ The following is a reflection on CCC 2250.
To help us appreciate the Fourth Commandment, “honor your father and your mother” the Catechism cites the Pastoral Constitution of the Church in the Modern World, Gaudium et spes, 47 of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council. Here are six highlights.
When considering the Fourth Commandment, God has in mind the human good of the human person. Humanly speaking, the best environment is for us to be born into a loving family, raised in a loving family and participate in family life. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs address food, clothing and shelter as basic goods for living. These are best provided within the family.
When individual human beings thrive, then too society thrives. So, the Fourth Commandment is also strictly tied to the human good of society as well, or as Saint Paul puts it: “If one member suffers, all the members suffer; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice…” (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:26). As followers of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob we are not anarchists. We recognize the importance of civil society and the rule of law. Above and beyond the natural well being, there is the supernatural well being which considers the Christian good of the human person. This too is part of the Fourth Commandment. The Christian good of the human person includes the life of grace. How grateful we should be to our parents if they brought us to the saving waters of Baptism and raised us in the faith! How zealous we should be to bring others, especially from our families to the same life in Christ! When the Fourth Commandment is lived, then the Christian good of society is well provided for, and virtue is encouraged and vice discouraged. Recall the great heritage left as an example for us by Saint Wenceslaus, Saint Edward the Confessor, Saint Louis IX, Saint Margaret of Scotland, Saint Elizabeth of Hungary… They did what they could to build up Christian society. Now it is our turn.
While the world says that there is no such thing a sin, making the Passion of Christ meaningless, the truth is that “the just man sins seven times a day” (cf. Proverbs 24:16). While there are sins against generosity and patience there are also sins against faith and religion and chastity, among others. The Fourth Commandment is concerned with the good health of the conjugal community, which is to say between husband and wife.
Based upon the good health of the conjugal community is the good health of the familial community. When the mother and father (husband and wife) are living lives according to God’s holy will and by His grace there are happy consequences, such as family harmony and tranquility. God bless families!
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr