Jesus was speaking to those who added their own traditions to the Word of God, and he stated to them: “God says: Honor your father and your mother, and anyone who speaks disrespectfully of their father or mother must be put to death.

But you say that it is okay for someone to tell their parents: Sorry, I can’t help you because I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.”

What do you think of such a contradiction? “The Creator, depriving needy parents of sustenance, to keep the resources of the children.” This can only be the result of a perverse imagination, of a manipulated religious tradition.

On the contrary, God commands us to honor our parents, to give them the place of respect, care, and gratitude for the sacrifices they made for us.

Can you imagine a follower of Christ generously giving resources and time to their local church while being stingy and absent with their parents? Could it be that this is why our family doesn’t fully believe what we preach?

Let’s pause, stop frantically running through weekly activities. Dad and mom are still sitting in their living room, dreaming of one day being on our schedules.

Let’s be attentive to their needs, both emotional and material.