The reminder of the fourth commandment, “Honor your father and mother,” which we heard proclaimed from the Letter to the Ephesians, may serve as an invitation for us to review our relationship with our parents, whether living or deceased. This commandment goes beyond being a mere duty. It is not just a matter of justice – which might sometimes be clouded by the faults or weaknesses of our parents. Rather, it is a call to recognize the greater design of God, who willed us to be born and allowed for us to be raised as we were. At its heart, honoring our parents becomes an act of piety toward God.
In honoring our earthly parents, we are also learning to honor our heavenly Father. This act shapes our ability to recognize the authority and love of God in our lives. Even in cases where parents may have fallen short, our honor toward them reflects our trust in God’s larger plan, which works even through human imperfection. Moreover, it brings us healing and peace, as it allows us to embrace forgiveness and acceptance in our relationships.
Saint Paul reminds us that we must be people of integrity, without duplicity. There is no room for lukewarmness in the spiritual life. We should not worry about what others think or how they may react when we stand firm in the truth. The truth is not subject to opinion or convenience – it is our responsibility to proclaim it, no matter the cost. This requires courage and faithfulness, not allowing ourselves to fall into spiritual worldliness, where God’s teachings are used for human gain.
Our call as leaders is to live lives of faithfulness and obedience, much like the obedience Saint Paul speaks of. True obedience, however, is not a master-slave relationship, but one of fidelity and love. It is a mutual relationship, based on the honesty and integrity of our actions toward God and one another.
Jesus, in today’s Gospel, encourages us to “strive to enter through the narrow gate.” Salvation requires effort, and this effort is not one of blind ritual or obligation, but of genuine trust in God and a life committed to His will. In the encyclical letter he just published – Dilexit Nos – Pope Francis says, (quote) “Hearing and tasting the Lord, and paying him due honor… is a matter of the heart. Only the heart is capable of setting our other powers and passions, and our entire person, in a stance of reverence and loving obedience before the Lord.” (end of quote).
May we strive, without duplicity or hesitation, to live the truth of the Gospel with love, obedience, and courage. With the help of Our Lady of Guadalupe, let us honor those who have given us life – first with our prayer – and, through them, honor the Father of us all.
