OPEN TO GOD’S PROJECT
The Gospel stories leave us no room to doubt. According to Jesus, God has a great project: build a great human family in the world. Attracted to this project, Jesus is completely dedicated to the fact that everyone feel God as their Father and all learn to live as brothers and sisters. This is the path that leads to salvation for the human race.
For some, today’s family is on its way to destruction because it has lost the traditional ideal of «Christian family». For others, any novelty is progress toward a new society. But how is a family open to the humanizing project of God? What features could we identify?
Love between the spouses. That’s first. The home is alive when the parents know how to love each other, support each other mutually, share pains and joys, forgive one another, dialogue and trust in one another. The family begins to be dehumanized when selfishness, arguing and misunderstandings grow.
Relationship between parents and children. The love of spouses isn’t enough. When parents and children live in confrontation and with hardly any communication, family life becomes impossible, joy disappears, everyone suffers. The family needs a climate of mutual trust in order to think about the good of everyone.
Attention to the most fragile. Others need to find welcome, support and understanding in their home. But the family becomes more human above all when the smallest are taken care of with love and kindness there, when the elderly are loved respectfully and patiently, when the sick and handicapped are treated carefully, when those who are going through hard times are not abandoned.
Openness to those in need. A family works for a more human world, when it isn’t closed in on its own problems and interests, but lives open to the needs of other families: broken homes without work or any income, who need material help; families of immigrants who ask for welcome and friendship.
Growth in faith. In the family we learn to live what’s most important. That’s why it’s the best place to learn to believe in that good God, Father of all; to get to know Jesus’ way of life; to discover his Good News; to pray together around the dinner table; to take part in the life of the community of Jesus’ followers. These Christian families contribute to building that world that is more just, dignified, and happy – the one God wants. They are a blessing to society.
Jose Antonio Pagola
Translator: Fr. Jay VonHandorf
