Family values

The term “family values” has taken much abuse over the years: used by politicians and others as a vague expression for self-promotion (“I’m the ‘Family Values’ candidate”) or a specific socio-political agenda (often incomplete).

We have also seen in recent decades many people – even our own children – reject the family values of faith that we have tried to pass on.

Today’s first reading (2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31) presents us with an extreme example of faith being successfully passed on within a family even in the most horrific circumstances.

Why was this mother successful?

First, it must be deeply and seriously recognized that faith is ultimately a gift from God. We must do all we can to share the faith and to raise our children in the faith, but ultimately it is God’s work through grace – not ours.

Second, the faith that we pass on must be a real family value: a value reflected in everything we say, do, and feel. If our children do not see the value of the faith reflected in our own words, thoughts, and feelings – if they do not feel that our faith makes a strong and positive impact on our lives and in our hearts – we may not less effective witnesses of the faith to our children.

We need to pray for the children among us and pray for ourselves, that the value of our faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and in His Church may be fully reflected in what we say, do, and feel and that all our children may embrace it fully by the grace of God.