by Therese Sherlock, CSJ
Families are schools for living, where Jesus’ teachings in the sermon on the mount can take deep root. My mother was a cradle Catholic, raised in the years when all church services and Bible passages were in Latin. I don’t know where she read or heard the sermon on the mount, but two family rules she insisted on came from there. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t call your brothers and sisters insulting names. Many times she stopped me on my way to bed to make the required apology to a sibling.
Our Irish Setter Rusty and our cat Fritz, whose name belied her many litters of kitties, also modeled getting along. Rusty had a favorite chair. When Fritz wanted it, she stared until Rusty moved. One day Fritz gave up her power stare, jumped up, and nestled in to share the chair ever after.
Years later, I called home from graduate school. When I got caught up on all the family, I asked about Rusty. Mom told me he was dead. A neighbor had shot him because he ran through their garden. I knew what hate was then. I hated that neighbor, Mr. Fuller. I hated every Fuller. And so did everyone else in my family.
Fast forward 10 years. I am visiting my mom, who is getting ready to attend an event at the church. She tells me it is a 50th wedding anniversary reception for the Fullers. I knew she hated the Fullers as much as any of us. “How can you go to something honoring them?” I asked.
“Well,” she said, “they go to daily Mass and so do I. You can’t go to Mass with someone all the time and be angry with them anymore.”
You are never too old to learn about holiness from your mother.
- What family rules do your think Mary had for Jesus?
- Which rules from your family have gospel roots?
- Which family rules do you still keep?