World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

This weekend I ask that we all take a moment to celebrate the most experienced members of our parish family, our grandparents and the elderly.  Whether they are related by blood or Faith they are our forefathers, role models and those among us best able to reflect our Father’s unfathomable Love. Our society today communicates a strong message that grandparents are extras, not essential to the family. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Judeo-Christian history teaches us that grandparents are critical figures in the faith and life of the young. I want to encourage you to take your cues regarding your role as grandparents from the word of God and not from culture.

It is easy to miss the Biblical references to grandparenting because the Bible uses phrases such as son’s son, or forefather.  In the Psalms Grandparents are told to, “be a disciple-maker of future generations by focusing on the salvation and sanctification of their family (Ps 78:7-8)” and Moses directed them to, “Teach [God’s Commands] to your children and your children’s children (Deut 4:9).”  The most effective way to teach and make disciples is to pay close attention to your own walk with God and live a Christ-centered life worthy of imitation. In doing this you can say to your grandchildren, “imitate me as I imitate Christ.”  The core of a grandparent’s role is evident in the word heritage.  Grandparents have inherited a faith, a faith they are called to pass on to their children and their grandchildren. 

This World Day for Grandparents comes at a time when I am still processing the recent loss of my own grandmother. On July 3rd I received the terrible news that my grandma had passed. Her death shattered my perspective of life because I had lost a matriarch, a friend, a mentor and the closest person in my life.  My emotions created chaos with in me which were further exasperated by the realization that I wasn’t able to be with her over the past three years due to the pandemic and that I couldn’t go home to attend her funeral. These feelings can be frightening and overwhelming; however, with God’s help I am learning how to cope and see that life and death are intimately intertwined. 

To all those whose grandparents are still with them, please cherish the time you have together. This fleeting moment is a gift bestowed by God.  I advise you to treasure every minute you can spend with them; someday they will be counted as some of the most valuable memories of your life.  I urge you to reach out to them and thank them for passing on their faith and influencing you to become the person you are today.  To those who have lost their grandparents, remember them by the way you live your lives. Please also look around you, our Parish is full of surrogate Grandparents overflowing with experience and Love and eager to connect with the fledgling members of our spiritual flock.

Happy Grandparents Weekend.  Please join us at Masses this weekend to pray and bless all grandparents and elderly. 

Fr Martin Luboyera