Homily for Wednesday, 30th Week of Ordinary Time

Homily for Wednesday
30th Week of Ordinary Time

October 31, 2018

Eph 6: 1-9
Don Bosco Cristo Rey, Takoma Park, Md.

When we hear St. Paul’s admonitions to members of the household, as did yesterday and this morning, we may wonder what they have to do with us.

(Pixabay)

We’re not children, so what’s this about obedience?  But Paul also quotes the commandment, which says “honor” your parents.  If you’re fortunate enuf to have one or both of your parents still, Paul strongly invites you to consider how you, as an adult, are bound still to honor, respect, and care for them.  If our parents are deceased, as most of ours are, we show our devotion to them thru prayer.

Paul might have had adolescents in mind when he urged fathers not to provoke their offspring to anger.  As teachers, we may take his words to remind us to be patient and flexible with our teens as we try to carry out the rest of his words about training and instructing them in the ways of the Lord.

Finally, Paul addresses slaves.  Unfortunately, slaves were a significant population in the Roman Empire, as in most ancient civilizations.  If you’ve seen Spartacus, you know that.  And they were a significant part of the early Christian community too.

How does that affect us?  We might focus on the word service.  If we don’t have human masters, we are all still called by Christ to serve one another “in sincerity of heart” (Eph 6:5).  Moreover, all of us are also under some human authority—religious superior, school administration, civil government, diocesan officials—to whom various forms of obedience, collaboration, respect, etc., are due.

May the Holy Spirit of Jesus guide us with his wisdom in our relations with our parents, our students, those placed over us, and all the sisters and brothers whom we strive to serve in love.