On July 10th, the Holy Father traveled to Valencia, Spain…
for the fifth World Meeting of Families.
The bishops and theologians who gathered with families
representing countries from all over the world
described the "unprecedented crisis" to which the family is now subjected.
The Cardinal in charge of the meeting spoke of
"the great social changes, technological advancements, migratory
movements and profound cultural changes"
which are changing civilization
and putting tremendous "ideological pressure" on the family.
As we are all aware,
the family values that our faith holds dear are under attack in our day…
by those who want to re-define marriage
by those who value pleasure above true love
by those who try to tell us that truth is relative.
The words of the prophet Jeremiah ring true today…
for there are many who, in various ways, mislead and scatter the sheep
and drive them away from the truth of God and of His Church.
They are found even among those who are charged with providing leadership.
In the midst of what appears to be quite a discouraging situation…
we can take solace in the words of Jeremiah:
The Lord says…I myself will gather my flock…and appoint shepherds
who will shepherd them so that they need no longer fear and tremble.
In the face of attacks against the values you struggle to instill in your children…
God has appointed the Church as shepherd and guardian of the truth.
The authentic mission of the human family is proclaimed by the Church…
and by every family which lives out the Gospel of Jesus.
The Church rejoices when you go out into the world and stand up for the truth
about life, and love, and the joy which comes from being truly Christian.
Speaking at the same World Meeting of Families, Pope Benedict XVI,
a faithful shepherd appointed by God to guide the Church,
proclaimed the great mission of the family:
"None of us gave ourselves life or single-handedly learned how to live.
All of us received from others both life itself and its basic truths, and we have been
called to attain perfection in relationship and loving communion with others.
The family, founded on indissoluble marriage between a man and a woman,
is the expression of this relational, filial, and communal aspect of life.
It is the setting where men and women are enabled to be born with dignity and to
grow and develop."
The Holy Father also beautifully describes the mission of parents:
"…to be guardians of life…teachers of the art of living and of the art of loving."
Husbands and wives…mothers and fathers…
have been given a unique vocation to be guardians of life…
life both natural and spiritual.
The family is the foundation of society…
the community of love in which life is transmitted…
the communion where every human person deserves to come to maturity…
with parents to care for us…
brothers and sisters who teach us about life and are in turn taught by us…
and grandparents who share the wisdom of past generations.
In the tradition of our faith, the family is also called the "Domestic Church."
For it is in the family that mothers and fathers…
the first teachers of their children…
hand on the wisdom of the Church and Gospel of Christ.
What a glorious gift it is…
to share with God in the creation of new life…
and to share with the Church in the handing on of the Tradition of our faith.
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The challenge presented to every family…
in the midst of many problems and crises…
is to remain faithful to the vocation to be guardians of life…
to love naturally…
to be good shepherds of the domestic church.
In order for husbands and wives to authentically fulfill all that God calls them to…
the living out of their unique vocation to complete, self-giving love
must remain intimately united to their vocation to bring forth new life
and their lives must remain open to life always.
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As we all know, family life involves challenges…and includes many sacrifices.
This includes setting aside our own desires…
taking a leap of faith…
and facing the challenges of family life with trust in the teaching of Christ.
Yet, as Pope Benedict said to those gathered for World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany:
"…becoming men and women according to Jesus’ plan demands sacrifices,
but these are by no means negative;
on the contrary, they are a help in living…a truly human and happy life."
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In today’s Gospel story, Jesus looks at the vast crowd before him…
desperate for the words of truth He would speak to them…
and He pitied them, for they were life sheep without a shepherd…
and He began to teach them many things.
He has many things to teach us as well.
Jesus is our Good Shepherd.
He teaches us the authentic path to happy, healthy, holy living.
His truth provides a way of living far happier than the ways of the world.
He refreshes our souls with His Body and Blood,
and with the grace of the Sacrament of Penance.
To experience deeply the overwhelming love of Christ,
we, like the Disciples, have to go away by ourselves and rest with Him.
This includes setting aside time for personal prayer each day…
time for prayer together with our families and friends…
time also for studying together the Word of God…
and the teaching of the Church.
Nourished by the grace of the Eucharist we celebrate…
and strengthened by our faith in the teaching of Christ…
may you go forth and live the command of John Paul the Great:
"Family, become what you are!"
May we all fulfill the great mission of the family with courage…
and forever proclaim to our broken world,
the love and truth that is revealed to us in Jesus Christ!
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