Study Topic for May                                                   

Last month we considered how we could orient our life to God. This month we look at some of the areas where we can orientate our life to progress in love, for the future of our children, our society and our Church.

Concern for the human and Christian education of our children.

“The family, like the Church, ought to be a place where the Gospel is transmitted and from which the Gospel radiates.” Pope Paul V1 – Evangelii Nuntiandi 71.

As couples, God has made us co-creators with him of future generations. He has entrusted our children to us – images of Himself – pure and undefiled – given to us to be loved and cared for and to be brought up in the values of Christian living. This huge responsibility needs to be attended to with love and attention.

Our children when born arrive totally free, without attitudes, open to everyone, full of trust and unconditional love. There is no inherent sin in newborn babies but they are often born into an apathetic world.  They generally arrive into a world of egotistical society, full of false values, individualism, selfishness and competitiveness, where money is measure of all. As parents we need to show them another way, if they are to live life to the full.

The grace given to us at Baptism gives us the power to oppose this kind of world.

“..by faith in Christ the Saviour and through Baptism, we are “born from above….through water and the Spirit” (John 3: 3-5). We thus become children of God in a state of freedom:  God still left us free will. For us to live differently – in a Christ-like way  – we not only need ‘to want to’ but we need ‘to be willing to’ change how we behave.

The world we live in today, has material demands, liberal thinking, social injustice and a lowering of moral standards both in public and private life. The young challenge this imbalance in society - left without answers they will drift into an unconscious acceptance and responsiveness.

Communicating a Different Way

How can we communicate to our children the virtues which will make the world a better place for all ? The young need to experience Christian values through interpersonal relationships. They need to experience the habit of prayer to build faith and establish and maintain a relationship with God. We can encourage this through daily prayer in the family and discussions about matters of faith and justice. We need to treat our children as people of infinite worth.

Are our young people in a genuine community, struggling together to find the will of God in their daily lives; a community that takes time in stillness and prayer away from the hustle and bustle of the world; a community that searches the Scriptures together for direction for life; a community that supports one another in times of need ? However, whenever we try to promote justice, peace, truth and love, we evoke resistance from others preserving their own interests. Jesus experienced this first hand. It led to his execution.

When we strive to relieve the suffering of mankind, respond to the human needs in a human way, speak out against injustice, so we carry on the mission of Christ. This may involve carrying the cross.

Our children are generally highly idealistic and want to change the world, this will make sense. As families we need to support one another in living out these ideals. We need to start with small initiatives, close to home, which will succeed and make a difference. We need to work within our own area of influence, where it is possible for us to instigate change, not waste our energy on things outside our power. This will give ourselves and our children the courage to reach out with confidence and trust, with the Holy Spirit guiding us.

Concrete witness of our love of Christ in Society.

Our mission as ‘People of God’ is to be the ‘salt of the earth’ and the ‘light of the world’. Matt 5: 13-16.

Being members of Teams, praying together as couples, reading the Scripture, must lead us to question and search for the gifts God has bestowed on us, to help in the building of the Kingdom. All of us have responsibility for some part of this building.

“There is a variety of gifts, but always the same Spirit.” 1 Cor. 12: 4

Some of us may see ourselves as gifted in promoting the dignity of the individual, defending their rights: others in working for justice in society, others in opposing discrimination, and others in administration. Some may feel drawn to the poor, the unemployed: others to work in education to help alleviate substance abuse (drink/drugs); others to help with couples in difficulty of divorce/separation, others with homelessness…`

We need to become aware of our attitudes, especially in dealing with a situation where ‘one of the least’ of our society manifests himself/herself to us as in need.

Concrete witness of our love of Christ in the Church.

“In the church there is diversity of ministry but unity of mission.” Catechism 59:2.

All of us are in parishes. Within the parish, the priests and the parishioners need to share the challenge of mission. Our attitude should question, how together, we can fulfil this mission; while at the same time caring for God’s people.

 In many countries the number of priests is decreasing. The need for the laity to become involved and committed in their parishes is essential to the life of the Church.  St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians affirms this spirit of collaboration at the heart of the building of the Christian community (Eph. 4:7-11). He encourages the Ephesians to maintain amongst themselves the unity of ‘the one Body’ of Christ.  Writing again to the Romans, he speaks of ‘one Body.’ (Rom 12:4-8) The parable of the labourers in the vineyard (Matt 20) has as its theme, that there is no place for idleness. It is not permissible for anyone to remain idle. We must become involved, some in small more private ways, others in more public and visible ways. There are many ways to collaborate in the work of our parishes – in liturgy, visitation, music, ministering of Eucharist, Reading of the Word, the list is endless.

We have much to offer, particularly in terms of marriage preparation and marriage counselling. Our experience as parents could help us assist in the preparation of children for the sacraments and in the organisation of children’s Masses. Many of us having reared children could offer much assistance in parenting courses. However, we must remember that our true area of expertise in Church today is in the development of married spirituality.

If each Team in the world were to go out in their immediate community and develop one new team, introducing 5/6 new couples and a priest to the methods of Teams of Our Lady, the result in spiritual growth for the individuals, couples, families, society and Church would be enormous.