LOVING, HONORING AND

SERVING OUR FAMILY

Talk 2 of Covenant Orientation
“As for me and my house,
we will serve the Lord.”
– Joshua 24:15
THE FAMILY
 The
family is God’s Plan (Genesis 1:27-28;
Genesis 2:18-24)
God created the family for a purpose – to be a means by which
His kingdom is established on earth.
No family is perfect. Sometimes, we find our families in very
challenging situations. Through this may happen, let us refrain
from questioning the Lord’s undying love for us. We should still
recognize that our family is God’s gift to us; we should still honor
and love the members of our families, learning to forgive and ask
for forgiveness.
 The family is under attack/ is being destroyed.
According to St. Paul II’s Familiaris Consortio the modern Christian Family is
under attack. He stresses that “ the modern Christian Family is often tempted to be
discouraged and is distressed at the growth of it’s difficulties.” Realizing this, the evil
one is working very hard to destroy the family so that God’s plan in the world won’t
happen.
People say it is outmoded or outdated. Some think that the concept of family
no longer exists at this time, with one busying themselves with their chosen career,
this leads them to be content in engaging with casual relationships.
We need to see the spiritual side to this, and take our part in this battle by
offering our very families to the plan of God. We are reminded in Familiaris Consortio
that God’s plan for the family is to take upon this decisive responsibility to embrace
it’s mission to guard, reveal and communicate love. This allows the family to become
what St. John Paul II calls as the sanctuary of life. This can happen when we play the
role God has given us for our families.
OUR COVENANT WITH OUR FAMILY
 Relating with our Parents
* Show them their importance to us.
* Valuing them by saying “I love you” or kissing and hugging them.
* Attitude of Gratitude: Express our appreciation, gestures of respect, asking for their
blessing.
* Speak well of them. Avoid speaking negatively about our parents. Explain things with
respect to them.
* Obedience (Ephesians 6:1). Accept direction. Listen to their advice. Our parents are
God’s stewards on earth.
* Accept correction (Proverbs 13:1 “A wise son pays attention when his father corrects
him, but an arrogant person never admit he is wrong.)
* Serve your parents (joyfully doing our household chores, doing well in our studies).
*Choosing to spend quality time with them, despite of our “busy” schedules.
 Relating with Our Brothers and Sisters in our Families
• Seeing your brothers and sisters as God’s Gift to us.
• Expressing to them their importance to us and appreciating
them.
• Respecting and listening to what they have to say even if they
are younger.
• Lovingly correcting them.
• Finding opportunities to share. We are friends with them.
• Spend quality time together.
 We are called to be the instruments of healing.
1. Loving – (Matt. 22) Loving your neighbor is the direct result/
effect of loving God. Our closest neighbors are our families. 1 Cor. 13:
4-7 describes the kind of love that we should have:
* Love is patient and kind.
* Love that is not jealous nor conceited nor proud.
* Love that is not ill-mannered nor selfish nor irritable.
* Love that does not keep a record of wrong.
* Love that is not happy with evil but with the truth.
* Love that never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience
never fail.
2. Witnessing
* Be forgiving, patient, and loving towards your brothers and sisters.
* Initiate healing – find ways to reconcile differences within the family.
* Praying and interceding for family members.
* Initiate family prayer time.
* Serving God with our family whenever possible.
CONCLUSION
How can we refer to God as Father if we do not have
a good relationship with our parents? Having a good
relationship with our family defines our relationship with
our God.
There is an attack on the family. As YFC members, we
need to take a stand to protect and build the family –
become witnesses and a hope to other families and take
our part in the CFC’s vision of “Families in the Holy
Spirit renewing the face of the earth.”
Discussion Starters
1. How can I grow in my relationship with my parents?
2. How can I grow in my relationship with my brothers and
sisters?
3. What concrete steps can I do to improve my relationship
with my family?