Family and discipleship call of life: Parenting is a sacred call

Parenting is a sacred call

One of the functions of the family is parenting. Parenting is a sacred gift and call. Parenting involves a discipleship, call of life. When Apostolic priesthood, which is the redemptive priesthood involves feeding the sheep, feeding the lamb, and tending the flock; Family's natural priesthood call is parenting, which is a discipleship way of life, which is called to Co- create, Co nurture, and tend the children with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Let me place the parenting roles and function near Holy Family, which included Jesus Mary and Joseph. Allow me to reflect the concepts of parenting in the light and context of Joyful Mystery of Holy Rosary, which include the Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity, Presentation, and Finding Jesus in the Temple. While all other mysteries addresses the redemptive apostolic priesthood roles of Jesus that which is continued by His Apostles till today, the Joyful mysteries present the fullness and gift of the Holy Family and which is continued in the parenting of secular families (secular priesthood of families), where we can meet Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Joyful mystery is the only mystery, where St. Joseph is present and the Holy family reveals its fullest glory.

 Holy Family's ministries encompass both priesthood (Apostolic and Secular), as Joseph and Mary were chosen to be Messiah's parents. Holy Family's functions were unique, and no other family in the universe at all times could equate their roles and calls. Mary and Joseph and Jesus made the redemptive family, through this family the creation was saved from the consequences of original sin. There are thousands of Apostolic families follow their foot step in raising their children to choose Apostolic Priesthood, which include Priesthood, Sisterhood, Deacon, and religious. I call the families from where the vocation comes, as Apostolic Family, as they share the continued redemptive purpose and function of all creation. Holy Family also shares the secular nature of the secular families. Secular families may find their identity in Jesus, Mary and Joseph as well and draw strength from their role models in parenting.

I think, parents undergo similar responsibilities in natural parenting. Annunciation mystery reveals that Mary said "yes" to God's will and Joseph also affirmed that yes later. I think, Holy Matrimony is the process where man and woman say "yes" in the presence of God and people to live in the presence of the Holy Spirit, as per the will of God. Thus saying "yes" to God and to one another initiates the parenthood, which is a willful act in obeying and following God's call to be parents. A sacred call to be lived throughout their life. A sacred commitment never ends and continues to eternity. A sacred venture that is filled with awe and wonder in every stage of its journey. A sacred voyage that is guided by the gifts of the Holy Spirit. A sacred bond that is strengthened by the grace and mercy of God. A sacred faithfulness that is blessed by the presence of the Holy Trinity. Saying " Yes" means being faithful to one another and to God.

In contrast, world view on the parenthood may take a utilitarian or hedonistic approach, where the majority of the times individual rights and freedom over take  the family's common right and collective goodness in the unity and family rights. World norms may include humanistic approach, where sometimes or more frequently, we tend to keep individual ego above God's will or many times we do not acknowledge God's presence in the marriage. No marriage escapes this temptation and testing, irrespective of faith and culture. The world's norms and pressures are very treacherous that families undergo various testing in protecting its vows and faithfulness to one another and to God. One might think, how parents, faithfulness to God and one another could affect the parenting? How extreme individual ego and individualism of  a parent could affect parenting? What it has to do with the parenting? However, we would like to think that parents are parents no matter of their individual status, in reality it is not so. For example, King David, who was considered to be a friend to God's heart, who was a man of faith, who loved God above all, but, when he forgot God, then he struggled in faithfulness, he was not spared, and his offspring suffered the consequences. So parents' faithfulness may be equated to the life and well being of the children. While parents love and faithfulness create a loving, nurturing environment of parenting, the division among parents may ruin the children and let them astray. I think, when  we do not acknowledge God's presence in the marriage, we reduce the majesty and the sacred identity of the marriage, where and when the family falls into the hands of the world and go through defenseless testing, as the first family struggled in the Garden of Eden.

Faith and faithfulness are gifts which come from the presence of the Holy Spirit . No human effort can earn or merit them. While testing and temptations are common for all the families, no human effort can redeem the family from the testing, except God's grace. Acknowledging God's presence in the family and living in the awareness of love and faithfulness to one another and God is a discipleship call of life. It may sound as high idealism, it may not sound like a feasible proposition, however, I think, simple trust in God and in His mercy may help the parents to keep up their promise of life. Struggle and salvation are common healing process within a dedicated family. Devoted parents depend on each other's shoulders and God's mercy to uphold them in the times of struggles without departing from each other, they wait for each other in waiting for God. They will cling on to each other in times of testing, as the salvation rests within themselves as they serve as the sanctuary of God in the sacrament Holy Matrimony. While God fearing parents compliment each other in strengths, they will wait upon God's mercy to uphold them, bind them and heal them and they will open themselves for God's interventions than human interventions. Faithful parenting is a discipleship call, which encounters numerous testing of the world on its journey. Saying " Yes" takes commitment to stay faithfulness to one another and to God.