There is a popular
movie series titled “God is not Dead.” The movie is about unbelief and comes from a quote of German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. The proper quote
is “God is dead. And we have killed him.”
As we
celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, consider Nietzsche’s
quote. God is not dead, but are killing the presence of the LORD in our
family and lives.
They
took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in
the law of the Lord.
Parents are
failing to offer their family and their children to the LORD. God is not dead;
but, we have put God somewhere else than at the center of our family.
Many parents stop bringing their children to mass as they become teenagers. Parents have
the misguided idea they shouldn’t force faith on their children. Children will learn
through the actions of their parents. They learn it is unsettling to have God and
Christian morals in their everyday, miserable, and many times sordid lives.
That is
a wrong idea. Loving parents protect their child in a dangerous situation. Good parents intervene if their child is in danger of being hurt, or
injured, or doing something unlawful.
Today’s parents
are ignoring the most hurtful situation. They ignore faith, ignore hope, and
ignore salvation. They are killing the presence of God in their family and
their children’s lives. God is dead, but the ability to
recognize the presence of God is dying in many person's lives. Many have put God somewhere else.
This is
having a drastic impact on faith, the Church, and religion. We must never
forget the faith of our families and especially of our children.
When
they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned
to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong,
filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
The USCCB
did a Survey
of Youth and Young Adults on Vocations in 2012. In that survey, 12% of male
respondents said had seriously considered becoming a priest or brother. Ten percent of female respondents say they had
seriously considered becoming a religious sister. This response was given by
young people who said:
- They attend weekly Mass (now and in high school)
- They live in households where parents talked to them about religion
- They said faith is the most important part of their life
- They participate in prayer and devotional activities, Bible study, Eucharistic adoration, retreats, or prayer groups
- They pray the rosary at least weekly (alone or in a group)
- They belong to a group that encourages devotion to Mary
Many of
these things, practices, devotions, beliefs, and life directions came from a
place where God is at the center of the family; families where God is part of
everyday life.
People will
find it hard to believe God would come into our ordinariness. They do not want
to believe that God enters the intimacies of our lives and our families.
When people
let that happen, they are surprise to learn that God is not dead; God is with
us and He always has been.
As the New
Year comes and we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, make sure we have not
put God somewhere else other than at the center of our family.
Yall be
good, yall be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live and love. Amen.
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