LAGACY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

What does the Christian life really entail? Is it to just refer to ourselves as Christians without any personal commitment? Moses tells us in the first reading of today that if we do what God requires of us and keep to the laws, norms, and human virtues, those who see or hear us will be marvelled and repent. One aspect of Moses' instruction today in the last sentence, is the importance of transmitting our faith in God to our children and the next generation. Many parents are failing in their duty of inculating the faith in their children. The Israelites did not fail in this. The patriarchs who started the journey from their own land to the promised land never got there, it was their children's children who kept the faith and trust in God who finally got to the land.

I heard a story recently about a man who had died, and he had written in his will that his hospital should be inherited by the church to manage and continue the works of charity and saving souls. His first son who was not doing badly in life, and had inherited many other things refused the hospital from being given to the church. It was not that he wanted the hospital for himself, but that the church should buy it from him. While many people condemned the son for his act, some others blamed the man who did not inculcate the Christian faith in his children very well. 

Many of us may be doing well in the practice of our faith, but what are we passing on to our children and the next generation? This should be our concern. 

*Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP*