367 HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER

YOUCAT Lesson 367

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

367  To whom does the Fourth Commandment refer, and what does it require of us?

The Fourth Commandment refers in the first place to one’s physical parents, but also to the people to whom we owe our life, our well-being, our security, and our faith.  [2196-2200, 2247-2248]

My great, great grandfather Jeremiah Briggs (1812-1900), Oakfield, WI, driving a favorite family horse called “Old-Chub.”  At the left, background is his sister, Hannah Briggs, who never married.  ….. 367

What we owe in the first place to our parents—namely love, gratitude, and respect—should also govern our relations to people who guide us and are there for us.  There are many people who represent for us a God-given, natural, and good authority: foster or step-parents, older relatives and ancestors, educators, teachers, employers, superiors.  In the spirit of the Fourth Commandment we should do them justice.  In the broadest sense, this commandment applies even to our duties as citizens to the State.  325

 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you.”  Exodus 20:12

 “The Life of the parents is the book which the children read.”  St. Augustine (354-430)

 [2196-2200, 2247-2248]

Jesus said to his disciples: "Love one another even as I have loved you."( John 13:34.) 1

 2196 In response to the question about the first of the commandments, Jesus says: "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."( Mark 12:29-31; compare Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:34-40; Luke 10:25-28.)²

The apostle St. Paul reminds us of this: "He who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. The commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,' and any other commandment, are summed up in this sentence, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."( Romans 13:8-10.)³ –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

 Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you. (Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy5:16.⁴–CCC

 He was obedient to them.( Luke 2:51.)⁵–CCC

The Lord Jesus himself recalled the force of this "commandment of God."( Mark 7:8-13.)⁶ The Apostle teaches: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother,' (This is the first commandment with a promise.) 'that it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth."'(Ephesians 6:1-3; compare Deuteronomy 5:16.)⁷–CCC

2197 The fourth commandment opens the second table of the Decalogue. It shows us the order of charity. God has willed that, after him, we should honor our parents to whom we owe life and who have handed on to us the knowledge of God. We are obliged to honor and respect all those whom God, for our good, has vested with his authority. –CCC

2198 This commandment is expressed in positive terms of duties to be fulfilled. It introduces the subsequent commandments which are concerned with particular respect for life, marriage, earthly goods, and speech. It constitutes one of the foundations of the social doctrine of the Church. –CCC

2199 The fourth commandment is addressed expressly to children in their relationship to their father and mother, because this relationship is the most universal. It likewise concerns the ties of kinship between members of the extended family. It requires honor, affection, and gratitude toward elders and ancestors. Finally, it extends to the duties of pupils to teachers, employees to employers, subordinates to leaders, citizens to their country, and to those who administer or govern it. –CCC

This commandment includes and presupposes the duties of parents, instructors, teachers, leaders, magistrates, those who govern, all who exercise authority over others or over a community of persons. –CCC

2200 Observing the fourth commandment brings its reward: "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the LORD your God gives you."( Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16.)⁸ Respecting this commandment provides, along with spiritual fruits, temporal fruits of peace and prosperity. Conversely, failure to observe it brings great harm to communities and to individuals. –CCC

IN BRIEF

2247 "Honor your father and your mother" (Deuteronomy 5:16; Mark 7:10). –CCC

2248 According to the fourth commandment, God has willed that, after him, we should honor our parents and those whom he has vested with authority for our good. –CCC

366 THE SUNDAY REST IS FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF ALL

YOUCAT Lesson 366

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

366  Why is it important for the State to preserve Sunday?

Sunday is a genuine service to the good of society, because it is a sign of opposition to the total absorption of man by the working world. [2188, 2192-2193]

Family lawn game at the Don L Bragg home near Rhinelander, WI. …..366

Therefore in lands that have a Christian character, Christians not only demand the governmental preservation of Sunday, they also do not ask others to do work that they themselves do not want to do on Sunday.  Everyone in creation should take part in this “breather”.

“What does Sunday cost us?  The very question is already a decisive attack on Sunday.  For Sunday is Sunday precisely because it costs nothing, in the economic sense.  The question of what preserving it as a work-free day (that has a) “cost” presupposes that we have already conceptually turned Sunday into a workday.”  Robeart Spaemann (b. 1927, German philosopher)

[2188, 2192-2193]

II. THE LORD'S DAY

A day of grace and rest from work

2188 In respecting religious liberty and the common good of all, Christians should seek recognition of Sundays and the Church's holy days as legal holidays. They have to give everyone a public example of prayer, respect, and joy and defend their traditions as a precious contribution to the spiritual life of society. If a country's legislation or other reasons require work on Sunday, the day should nevertheless be lived as the day of our deliverance which lets us share in this "festal gathering," this "assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven."( Hebrews 12:22-23.)¹²⁵ –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

IN BRIEF

2192 "Sunday . . . is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church" (Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1246 § 1). "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass" (Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1247). –CCC

2193 "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound . . . to abstain from those labors and business concerns which impede the worship to be rendered to God, the joy which is proper to the Lord's Day, or the proper relaxation of mind and body" (Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1247). --CCC

365 SUNDAY CELEBRATION OF THE LORD'S DAY AND THE EUCHARIST

YOUCAT Lesson 365

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

365  How do Christians make Sunday “the Lord’s Day”?

A Catholic Christian attends Holy Mass on Sunday or on the vigil of Sunday.  On that day he refrains from all work that would prevent him from worshipping God or disturb the festive, joyful, restful, and restorative character of the day.  [2177-2186, 2192-2193]

A woman reading on an inn porch.  Google images.  …..365

Since Sunday is an Easter celebration that occurs each week, Christians from the earliest times have gathered together on that day to celebrate and thank their Redeemer and to reunite themselves with him and with others who are redeemed.  So it is a central duty of every conscientious Catholic Christian to “keep holy” Sunday and the other holy days of the Church.  One is exempted from it only by urgent family duties and important responsibilities in society.  Because participation in the Sunday Eucharist is fundamental for a Christian life, the Church explicitly declares that it is a serious sin to stay away from Sunday Mass without good reason.  219, 345

“Without Sunday we cannot live,” answered the Christian martyrs of Abitene, before they were executed in 304 by Emperor Diocietian because they had opposed his ban on the celebration of Sunday.

“People used to say: Give your soul a Sunday!  Now they say: Give your Sunday a soul!”  Peter Rosegger (1843-1918, Austrian writer)

[2177-2186, 2192-2193]                            

The Sunday Eucharist

2177 The Sunday celebration of the Lord's Day and his Eucharist is at the heart of the Church's life. "Sunday is the day on which the paschal mystery is celebrated in light of the apostolic tradition and is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church."( Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1246 § 1.)¹¹⁰  —Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

"Also to be observed are the day of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Epiphany, the Ascension of Christ, the feast of the Body and Blood of Christi, the feast of Mary the Mother of God, her Immaculate Conception, her Assumption, the feast of Saint Joseph, the feast of the Apostles Saints Peter and Paul, and the feast of All Saints."( Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1246 § 2: "The conference of bishops can abolish certain holy days of obligation or transfer them to a Sunday with prior approval of the Apostolic See.") 111

--CCC

2178 This practice of the Christian assembly dates from the beginnings of the apostolic age.( Compare Acts of the Apostles 2:42-46; 1 Corinthians 11:17.)¹¹² The Letter to the Hebrews reminds the faithful "not to neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some, but to encourage one another."( Hebrews 10:25.)¹¹³--CCC

Tradition preserves the memory of an ever-timely exhortation: Come to Church early, approach the Lord, and confess your sins, repent in prayer. . . . Be present at the sacred and divine liturgy, conclude its prayer and do not leave before the dismissal. . . . We have often said: "This day is given to you for prayer and rest. This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."( Sermo de die dominica 2 et 6:Patrologia Graeca 86/1,416C and 421C.)¹¹⁴--CCC

2179 "A parish is a definite community of the Christian faithful established on a stable basis within a particular church; the pastoral care of the parish is entrusted to a pastor as its own shepherd under the authority of the diocesan bishop."( Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 515 § 1.)¹¹⁵ It is the place where all the faithful can be gathered together for the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist. The parish initiates the Christian people into the ordinary expression of the liturgical life: it gathers them together in this celebration; it teaches Christ's saving doctrine; it practices the charity of the Lord in good works and brotherly love:--CCC

You cannot pray at home as at church, where there is a great multitude, where exclamations are cried out to God as from one great heart, and where there is something more: the union of minds, the accord of souls, the bond of charity, the prayers of the priests.( St. John Chrysostom, De incomprehensibili 3,6:Patrologia Graeca 48,725.)¹¹⁶--CCC

The Sunday obligation

2180 The precept of the Church specifies the law of the Lord more precisely: "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass."( Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1247.)¹¹⁷ "The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day."( Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1248 § 1.)¹¹⁸--CCC

2181 The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor.( Compare Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1245.)¹¹⁹ Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.--CCC

2182 Participation in the communal celebration of the Sunday Eucharist is a testimony of belonging and of being faithful to Christ and to his Church. The faithful give witness by this to their communion in faith and charity. Together they testify to God's holiness and their hope of salvation. They strengthen one another under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.--CCC

2183 "If because of lack of a sacred minister or for other grave cause participation in the celebration of the Eucharist is impossible, it is specially recommended that the faithful take part in the Liturgy of the Word if it is celebrated in the parish church or in another sacred place according to the prescriptions of the diocesan bishop, or engage in prayer for an appropriate amount of time personally or in a family or, as occasion offers, in groups of families."( Compare Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1245.)¹²⁰--CCC

A day of grace and rest from work

2184 Just as God "rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done,"( Genesis 2:2.)¹²¹ human life has a rhythm of work and rest. The institution of the Lord's Day helps everyone enjoy adequate rest and leisure to cultivate their familial, cultural, social, and religious lives.( Compare Gaudium et Spes 67 § 3.)¹²²--CCC

2185 On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord's Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body.( Compare Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 120. )¹²³ Family needs or important social service can legitimately excuse from the obligation of Sunday rest. The faithful should see to it that legitimate excuses do not lead to habits prejudicial to religion, family life, and health.--CCC

The charity of truth seeks holy leisure- the necessity of charity accepts just work.( St. Augustine, De civ. Dei 19,19:Patrologia Latina 41,647.)¹²⁴--CCC

2186 Those Christians who have leisure should be mindful of their brethren who have the same needs and the same rights, yet cannot rest from work because of poverty and misery. Sunday is traditionally consecrated by Christian piety to good works and humble service of the sick, the infirm, and the elderly. Christians will also sanctify Sunday by devoting time and care to their families and relatives, often difficult to do on other days of the week. Sunday is a time for reflection, silence, cultivation of the mind, and meditation which furthers the growth of the Christian interior life.--CCC

IN BRIEF

2192 "Sunday . . . is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church" (Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1246 § 1). "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass" (Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1247).--CCC

2193 "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound . . . to abstain from those labors and business concerns which impede the worship to be rendered to God, the joy which is proper to the Lord's Day, or the proper relaxation of mind and body" (Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1247).--CCC

364 JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD ON A SUNDAY

YOUCAT Lesson 364

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

364  Why do Christians replace the Sabbath with Sunday?

Christians replaced the celebration of the Sabbath with the celebration of Sunday because Jesus Christ rose from the dead on a Sunday.  The “Lord’s Day”, however, does include elements of the Sabbath.  [2174-2176, 2190-2191]

The Resurrection Of Christ by Carl Heinrich Bloch. ….. 364

The Christian Sunday has three essential elements: (1) It recalls the creation of the world and communicates the festive splendor of God’s goodness to the passage of time.  (2) It recalls the “eighth day of creation”, when the world was made new in Christ (thus a prayer from the Easter Vigil says: “You have wonderfully created man and even more wonderfully restored him.”).  (3) It includes the theme of rest, not just to sanctify the interruption of work, but to point even now toward man’s eternal rest in God.

“If pagans call it the ‘day of the sun’, we willingly agree, for today the light of the world is raised, today is revealed the sun of justice with healing in his rays.”  St. Jerome (347-419)

“That is the difference between animals and man; the latter has a Sunday outfit, too.”  Martin Luther (1483-1546)

[2174-2176, 2190-2191]

II. THE LORD'S DAY

This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.( Psalm 118:24.)¹⁰³ --Catechism of the Catholic Church, Secomd Edition

The day of the Resurrection: the new creation

2174 Jesus rose from the dead "on the first day of the week." (Compare Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1; John 20:1.)¹⁰⁴ Because it is the "first day," the day of Christ's Resurrection recalls the first creation. Because it is the "eighth day" following the sabbath,( Compare Mark 16:1; (Matthew 28:1.)¹⁰⁵ it symbolizes the new creation ushered in by Christ's Resurrection. For Christians it has become the first of all days, the first of all feasts, the Lord's Day (he kuriake hemera, dies dominica) Sunday: –CCC

We all gather on the day of the sun, for it is the first day [after the Jewish sabbath, but also the first day] when God, separating matter from darkness, made the world; and on this same day Jesus Christ our Savior rose from the dead.( St. Justin, I Apol. 67:Patrologia Graeca 6,429 and 432.)¹⁰⁶ –CCC

Sunday - fulfillment of the Sabbath

2175 Sunday is expressly distinguished from the sabbath which it follows chronologically every week; for Christians its ceremonial observance replaces that of the sabbath. In Christ's Passover, Sunday fulfills the spiritual truth of the Jewish sabbath and announces man's eternal rest in God. For worship under the Law prepared for the mystery of Christ, and what was done there prefigured some aspects of Christ(Compare 1 Corinthians 10:11.)¹⁰⁷ –CCC

Those who lived according to the old order of things have come to a new hope, no longer keeping the sabbath, but the Lord's Day, in which our life is blessed by him and by his death.( St. Ignatius of Antioch, Ad Magn. 9,1:Sources Chretiennes 10,88.)¹⁰⁸ –CCC

2176 The celebration of Sunday observes the moral commandment inscribed by nature in the human heart to render to God an outward, visible, public, and regular worship "as a sign of his universal beneficence to all."( St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae II-II,122,4.)¹⁰⁹ Sunday worship fulfills the moral command of the Old Covenant, taking up its rhythm and spirit in the weekly celebration of the Creator and Redeemer of his people.

IN BRIEF

2190 The sabbath, which represented the completion of the first creation, has been replaced by Sunday which recalls the new creation inaugurated by the Resurrection of Christ. –CCC

2191 The Church celebrates the day of Christ's Resurrection on the "eighth day," Sunday, which is rightly called the Lord's Day (compare Sacrsanctum Concilium 106).

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 23, 2917

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 23, 2917
Lectionary: 106

Reading 1 WIS 12:13, 16-19

There is no god besides you who have the care of all, that you need show you have not unjustly condemned.  For your might is the source of justice; your mastery over all things makes you lenient to all.
For you show your might when the perfection of your power is disbelieved; and in those who know you, you rebuke temerity.  But though you are master of might, you judge with clemency, and with much lenience you govern us; for power, whenever you will, attends you.  And you taught your people, by these deeds, that those who are just must be kind; and you gave your children good ground for hope that you would permit repentance for their sins.

Responsorial Psalm PS 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16

R. (5a) Lord, you are good and forgiving.

You, O LORD, are good and forgiving,
abounding in kindness to all who call upon you.
Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer
and attend to the sound of my pleading.

R. Lord, you are good and forgiving.

All the nations you have made shall come
and worship you, O LORD,
and glorify your name.
For you are great, and you do wondrous deeds;
you alone are God.

R. Lord, you are good and forgiving.

You, O LORD, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in kindness and fidelity.
Turn toward me, and have pity on me;
give your strength to your servant.

R. Lord, you are good and forgiving.

Reading 2 ROM 8:26-27

Brothers and sisters:  The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.  And the one who searches hearts
knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the holy ones according to God's will.

Alleluia CF. MT 11:25

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 13:24-43  

Jesus proposed another parable to the crowds, sayin  "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field.  While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off.   When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well.  The slaves of the householder came to him and said, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field?  Where have the weeds come from?'  He answered, 'An enemy has done this.'  His slaves said to him,
'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'  He replied, 'No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them.  Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, "First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn."'"

He proposed another parable to them.  "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field.  It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants.  It becomes a large bush, and the 'birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.'"

He spoke to them another parable.  "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened."

All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. 
He spoke to them only in parables,
to fulfill what had been said through the prophet:
I will open my mouth in parables,
I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation
of the world.

Then, dismissing the crowds, he went into the house.  His disciples approached him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field."  He said in reply, "He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the kingdom.  The weeds are the children of the evil one,
and the enemy who sows them is the devil.  The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.  Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.  The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers.  They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. 
Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  Whoever has ears ought to hear."