Answering God’s Call: The Duty of Parents – Jan 13 – Homily – Fr Matthias

 

Fr Matthias gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Jan 13, 2025, on how parents should encourage, not hinder, their children's call to follow God, as religious vocations are precious gifts that bring spiritual blessings.

Father reflected on Mark 1:20, highlighting how James and John left their father, Zebedee, to follow Christ. Zebedee's example of not hindering his sons' vocation was praised, illustrating the serious responsibility parents have not to obstruct religious callings. He noted that while opposition to religious vocations is rare, it does occur and can have profound spiritual consequences. Citing St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Alphonsus Liguori, and St. Bernard, Father emphasized the gravity of such opposition, which could lead to spiritual harm for both parents and children. He quoted passages such as Matthew 10:37, which states, "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me," and Psalm 45:10, which says, "Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thine ear; forget thy people and thy father's house." These serve as reminders of the primacy of following God's will.

Father shared a story of a priest whose father staunchly opposed his vocation, almost causing its loss. He drew from a Vincentian priest's writings that describe how parents immersed in worldly comforts might lose the fervor to prioritize faith and dismiss their children's higher spiritual callings. This resistance, according to St. Alphonsus Liguori, could amount to mortal sin. Father concluded by urging everyone to discern God's will with joy and follow it faithfully, regardless of the form of their calling.

For Further Reading
Mark 1:20 - NAB - Disciples Leave Zebedee to Follow Jesus
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/1?20

Matthew 10:37 - NAB - Love for Christ Over Family
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/10?37

Psalm 45:10 - NAB - Call to Devotion and Sacrifice
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/45?10

Catechism of the Catholic Church 2233 - Family and Religious Vocations
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a4.htm#2233

Catechism of the Catholic Church 542 - The Call to Follow Christ
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p122a3p2.htm#542

Catechism of the Catholic Church 1578 - Importance of Vocation Discernment
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c3a6.htm#1578

00:00 – Introduction: Praise Be to Jesus
00:10 – Zebedee's Support of Apostleship
00:18 – Parents and Religious Vocations
01:09 – Seriousness of Opposing Vocations
01:41 – Saints' Views on Parental Opposition
03:41 – Importance of Religious Vocations
04:19 – Mortal Sin of Preventing Vocations
06:01 – Joy in Following God's Will

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Hilary of Poitiers - Opt Mem - http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=55
Readings: Monday 1st Week of Ordinary Time - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/011325.cfm
1st: heb 1:1-6
Resp: psa 97:1-2, 6-7, 9
Gsp: mar 1:14-20

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1014&r=1359

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