When I lived in Wichita a retired priest would always ask me, “Have you been home lately to see your family?” I would go home and see my family around once a month. He would get after me and tell me to spend time with them. This past Sunday I decided to go home. A couple of my brothers came out to my parent’s house and we played a few board games. On Monday, I went into town to spend time with my grandma. We went to the cemetery to pray for my grandpa and cousin. The trip home was good and restful.
The forth commandment is to honor our mother and father. At times in the confessional, children will confess this sin if they do not obey their parents. Obeying is only part of honoring them. Do we as adults honor our parents by calling them or better yet visiting them on a regular basis? Do we pray for them? Are we making sure they are being taken care of physically, mentally and most importantly spiritually? If they cannot drive do we take them to where they need to go, including Sunday Mass? If they are not able to go to Mass does their parish priest know so someone can come to take care of them spiritually? If our parents have passed away do we try to visit them in the cemetery making sure their graves are kept up, bringing our children to see them. Continue to pray and honor your parents spending time with them whether they are here or have passed away.
