Worship, Adoration, Gratitude – as a matter of justice we owe God that supreme
act of justice. Why? -because all that we are, all that we have comes
from Him. What is more, God wants us to accept Him as
the most loving, the most caring of parents. This combination of RESPECT for
One who is greater than ourselves and LOVE for One who has chosen to see us as
His beloved children is known as ‘PIETY.’
On Mt. Sinai the Lord God revealed to Moses that His Chosen People were
duty bound to show Him a level of respect that belong to Him alone, “I am the Lord your God… You shall have no other Gods to rival me,” to
which He immediately adds, “I act with faithful love towards thousands of those
who love me and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20.2,6). To God alone do we owe the supreme act of worship; Him alone must we adore. Such reverence is inspired by the gift o piety. The closer we are to God the more we will appreciate His awesome majesty and in comparison, our nothingness. In wonder we will exclaim with the psalmist, "What is man that you take thought of him, and the son of man that you care for him. . "(Ps.8. 4-5).
It is our glory that we are in such a beautiful, intimate relationship with our Creator. To Him we owe respectful, obedient love – that is, Piety. Something of the sort must surely filter down to the most basic of human relationships – those within the family…the nursery of humanity. For better or for worse the level of this Domestic Piety will impact upon the stability and contentment of the home, and ultimately on society itself. Knowing this the Creator decreed , “Honour your father and mother so that you may live long in the land that the Lord God is giving you,”(Exodus 20.12).
We are entitled to infer that the orderliness and decency of Domestic Piety should be woven into those situations that require leadership and co-operation - a reasonable exercise of authority, a willing compliance and, most certainly, mutual respect. This surely is basic common sense. Would that it were common practice!
This bed-rock justice in human affairs becomes a dimension of religion when inter-action between humans is determined by what God intends and requires of us. Our Piety, or loving respect, towards God then leads to Piety towards each other. It is in this context that the Holy Spirit breathes His Gift of PIETY, into individuals and into society itself.
Jesus – the Son of God, the Son of Mary, lived Piety from the Nazareth childhood within the family, (Lk.2.51), to the Calvary obedience even unto death. (Phil. 2.8).
St. Paul described how a culture of Piety is meant to Christianize family life, “Whatever you say or do, let it be in the name of the Lord Jesus, in thanksgiving to God the Father through him. Wives, be subject to your husbands, as you should in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be sharp with them. Children, be obedient to your parents always, because that is what will please the Lord. Parents, do not irritate your children or they will lose heart," (Col. 3).
Speaking globally, our relating to God is scarcely flourishing; to a large extent traditional family relationships are floundering. There is an urgent need for us to re-discover and strongly promote the Gift of the Holy Spirit known as ‘Piety’. Through this we welcome each other, first, as being made in God's own image and likeness, and, then through baptism, as being His children -our brothers and sisters -sharing His divine life. This gift of piety should give us a divine sensitivity to each other's dignity and inspire us to treat each other with loving respect.
Peter and Isidore Clarke, O.P.
It is our glory that we are in such a beautiful, intimate relationship with our Creator. To Him we owe respectful, obedient love – that is, Piety. Something of the sort must surely filter down to the most basic of human relationships – those within the family…the nursery of humanity. For better or for worse the level of this Domestic Piety will impact upon the stability and contentment of the home, and ultimately on society itself. Knowing this the Creator decreed , “Honour your father and mother so that you may live long in the land that the Lord God is giving you,”(Exodus 20.12).
We are entitled to infer that the orderliness and decency of Domestic Piety should be woven into those situations that require leadership and co-operation - a reasonable exercise of authority, a willing compliance and, most certainly, mutual respect. This surely is basic common sense. Would that it were common practice!
This bed-rock justice in human affairs becomes a dimension of religion when inter-action between humans is determined by what God intends and requires of us. Our Piety, or loving respect, towards God then leads to Piety towards each other. It is in this context that the Holy Spirit breathes His Gift of PIETY, into individuals and into society itself.
Jesus – the Son of God, the Son of Mary, lived Piety from the Nazareth childhood within the family, (Lk.2.51), to the Calvary obedience even unto death. (Phil. 2.8).
St. Paul described how a culture of Piety is meant to Christianize family life, “Whatever you say or do, let it be in the name of the Lord Jesus, in thanksgiving to God the Father through him. Wives, be subject to your husbands, as you should in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be sharp with them. Children, be obedient to your parents always, because that is what will please the Lord. Parents, do not irritate your children or they will lose heart," (Col. 3).
Speaking globally, our relating to God is scarcely flourishing; to a large extent traditional family relationships are floundering. There is an urgent need for us to re-discover and strongly promote the Gift of the Holy Spirit known as ‘Piety’. Through this we welcome each other, first, as being made in God's own image and likeness, and, then through baptism, as being His children -our brothers and sisters -sharing His divine life. This gift of piety should give us a divine sensitivity to each other's dignity and inspire us to treat each other with loving respect.
Peter and Isidore Clarke, O.P.
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