Loving our parents

Grace, mercy and peace to you.

Love your parents for always

Even when hate seems to fill your soul

It is just  unappreciated, neglected love

Love and hate are extremes of each other

Put in more love and hate will disappear

Message for Oct. 23, 2011.

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Honor thy father and thy mother. Yes, that is a commandment from the Old Testament , but it is still applicable up to now until forever.  But,  if they themselves are not worthy to be honored because of abuses against you and your siblings, their daily interactions with the community, what will you do? Destroy them before the eyes of others? No, you don’t have the right to judge them, even if you think they are evil and cruel, it is not you who should judge or punish them.

Keep your hands clean of any evil deeds, no one has the right to judge another person because you are all sinners. Leave it up to Me. Pray fervently that you will have more love for your parents even though how hateful they have become in your eyes.  Yes, pray for love to suffuse your being and do not let the evil one triumph with his dirty plans.

Family massacres have become common nowadays, why? Because family members stopped caring for each other. They view their responsibilities as a burden and do it, not out of love but because it is expected of them. To compound that problem, family members just expect and take for granted the responsibilities each one has for each other. When everyone takes each other for granted, then expect discontent and dissatisfaction to surface. The lack of appreciation eats at the heart of those laboring for their family and remains unappreciated for their effort.

Know that your efforts are not unnoticed, no, it will never be.

Continue giving and loving, that is the essence of Christian love. It is difficult, yes, it is very difficult, but the reward will be great. When you triumph over the evil one’s temptations, your  fortitude will enrich your character. Each trial, each triumph makes you a better person.

Don’t ever stoop down to the level of rudeness or evil that your are being tempted with. Like a red cloth to a raging bull, that’s how the evil one works. Walk away, keep silent and pray.  Don’t instigate a bitter misunderstanding by speaking words that you will regret later. It is better to just walk away and pray for strength and love to permeate your embattled spirit. 

Caring for our parents

Grace, mercy and peace to you.

Honor your father and your mother

So the Bible says

We must obey this commandment

Difficult  it may be  at times

Offer to the heavens our sighs and tears

Hoping for the reward in heaven

At the end of our days

Message for Oct. 9, 2011.

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Parental obligations, is as I’ve said earlier a shared responsibility of siblings, not a sole responsibility of a brother or sister.  If there is only one doing the work for all, then the others should support financially or physically so as not to place undue burden to the sibling looking after their parents. But, if the rest of the siblings does not share in the financial expenses and in caring for their parents, the blessings of this noble role goes to the one who had sacrificed their comfort to be able to look  after their aging parents.

Do not despair if the burden seems to be greater than your capacity to endure sacrifice for a parent. Treat them well, even if they seem unappreciative of what you are doing. Persevere in doing what is good and think of Me, offer it all to Me.  That is the only way for you to bear the uncalled for malice and criticism that sometimes they may say to you. 

Think of the Holy Virgin Mary, offer it to her too. We look kindly on those who are serving their parents well. Your reward will be in heaven, My children.  Do not despair, do not hate your mother or your father for being a burden to you now.  Think of what they did to you when you were still young.  Their physical limitations are frustrating them and they knowingly or unknowingly vent their helplessness to those who are with them constantly.

It may be a miserable situation, but you just have to endure and love them more. You can do it, My children think of what My Son endured for all of you and you will realize that your sacrifice is so small compared to His. A good and loving Christian shows love even in an unappreciated and difficult situation.