{"id":9259,"date":"2020-10-01T07:26:58","date_gmt":"2020-10-01T12:26:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/?p=9259"},"modified":"2020-10-01T07:37:44","modified_gmt":"2020-10-01T12:37:44","slug":"ode-to-spouses-and-parents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/ode-to-spouses-and-parents\/","title":{"rendered":"Ode to Spouses and Parents"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large wpimg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/w_parents.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9263\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/w_parents.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/w_parents-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/w_parents-500x300.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/w_parents-624x374.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the great privileges in being a priest is to be invited into the watershed moments in people\u2019s lives. The priest was there when you were baptized. He saw the gleam in your parent\u2019s eye. He gave you your First Holy Communion, heard your confessions, watched you profess your wedding vows and, to bring things full circle, he baptized your children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then . . . he visited you in the hospital, he anointed you when you were sick, and finally . . . he buried you as your children and grandchildren shed tears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So what\u2019s your point Fr. Tim? It\u2019s simple &#8211; we priests know you. We\u2019ve watched you your whole life and (you need to know this), you are amazing. You have done the most difficult of life\u2019s tasks and for the most part you\u2019ve done them with grace and selflessness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Priests have their own set of challenges in living their life but I don\u2019t think they compare to what God asks of you as spouses and parents. You are heroes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>So here\u2019s to you &#8211; &#8211; husbands and wives, moms and dads. Thank you for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Saying \u201clet\u2019s have a baby.\u201d That baby was \u201cus\u201d. Mom, you gave your body over to nature that we might have life. Dad, you held your breath and discovered the treasure you have in your wife.<\/li><li>Spending sleepless nights wondering how your child was growing and whether you were doing everything right to help them.<\/li><li>Exhausting yourselves at work and at home to make your family happy and safe.<\/li><li>Carefully watching your children\u2019s habits and friends to make sure they find the right path.<\/li><li>Carrying that huge sadness the day your child has their first day in school.<\/li><li>Feeling your child\u2019s tears more deeply that they do.<\/li><li>Feeling a distance from your husband\/wife because at that moment your children need you more than your spouse.<\/li><li>Waiting patiently and selflessly to rekindle your marriage.<\/li><li>Never giving up on your children no matter how they have failed.<\/li><li>Spending more money than you have so the children\u2019s education can happen.<\/li><li>Watching your children marry and move away . . . \u201cThanks mom. Thanks dad. Bye.\u201d<\/li><li>Rediscovering your life\u2019s partner in an empty nest.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These are just a few of the countless moments of self-sacrifice you have made to be that loving spouse and parent. I\u2019m limited to what I have personally seen in you. I can\u2019t imagine some of the sacrifices life has asked of you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And you did it all without fanfare, no applause or cameras rolling. It\u2019s all a secret really, between you and your spouse . . . and God. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>And what does Jesus have to say about all this (and you too I bet)? It\u2019s no big deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe servant does not deserve thanks for what his station demands. When you have done all these things say \u201cwe are but unprofitable servants. We have done no more that is our duty.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/luke\/17?10\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Luke 17:10<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This certainly goes against the voices in the world that tell us to grab for all the gusto we can. Rather, Jesus tells us \u201cNo. Whoever tries to gain his own life will lose it; but whoever loses themselves for my sake will gain it.\u201d<a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/matthew\/10?39\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> Mt. 10:39<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So dear spouses and parents . . . congratulations . . . you have found the key to life\u2019s meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWell done my good and faithful servant.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/matthew\/25?21\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mt. 25:21<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bless every mother\u2019s child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fr. Tim<\/p>\n<a class=\"synved-social-button synved-social-button-share synved-social-size-24 synved-social-resolution-single synved-social-provider-facebook nolightbox\" data-provider=\"facebook\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"Share on Facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.holytrinityweb.com%2Fweekly%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F9259&#038;t=Ode%20to%20Spouses%20and%20Parents&#038;s=100&#038;p&#091;url&#093;=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.holytrinityweb.com%2Fweekly%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F9259&#038;p&#091;images&#093;&#091;0&#093;=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.holytrinityweb.com%2Fweekly%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F10%2Fw_parents.jpg&#038;p&#091;title&#093;=Ode%20to%20Spouses%20and%20Parents\" style=\"font-size: 0px;width:24px;height:24px;margin:0;margin-bottom:5px;margin-right:5px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Facebook\" title=\"Share on Facebook\" class=\"synved-share-image synved-social-image synved-social-image-share\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" style=\"display: inline;width:24px;height:24px;margin: 0;padding: 0;border: none;box-shadow: none\" src=\"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-content\/plugins\/social-media-feather\/synved-social\/image\/social\/regular\/48x48\/facebook.png\" \/><\/a><a class=\"synved-social-button synved-social-button-share synved-social-size-24 synved-social-resolution-single synved-social-provider-twitter nolightbox\" data-provider=\"twitter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"Share on Twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.holytrinityweb.com%2Fweekly%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F9259&#038;text=Hey%20check%20this%20out\" style=\"font-size: 0px;width:24px;height:24px;margin:0;margin-bottom:5px;margin-right:5px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"twitter\" title=\"Share on Twitter\" class=\"synved-share-image synved-social-image synved-social-image-share\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" style=\"display: inline;width:24px;height:24px;margin: 0;padding: 0;border: none;box-shadow: none\" src=\"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-content\/plugins\/social-media-feather\/synved-social\/image\/social\/regular\/48x48\/twitter.png\" \/><\/a><a class=\"synved-social-button synved-social-button-share synved-social-size-24 synved-social-resolution-single synved-social-provider-linkedin nolightbox\" data-provider=\"linkedin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"Share on Linkedin\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&#038;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.holytrinityweb.com%2Fweekly%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F9259&#038;title=Ode%20to%20Spouses%20and%20Parents\" style=\"font-size: 0px;width:24px;height:24px;margin:0;margin-bottom:5px;margin-right:5px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"linkedin\" title=\"Share on Linkedin\" class=\"synved-share-image synved-social-image synved-social-image-share\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" style=\"display: inline;width:24px;height:24px;margin: 0;padding: 0;border: none;box-shadow: none\" src=\"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-content\/plugins\/social-media-feather\/synved-social\/image\/social\/regular\/48x48\/linkedin.png\" \/><\/a><a class=\"synved-social-button synved-social-button-share synved-social-size-24 synved-social-resolution-single synved-social-provider-mail nolightbox\" data-provider=\"mail\" rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"Share by email\" href=\"mailto:?subject=Ode%20to%20Spouses%20and%20Parents&#038;body=Hey%20check%20this%20out:%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.holytrinityweb.com%2Fweekly%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F9259\" style=\"font-size: 0px;width:24px;height:24px;margin:0;margin-bottom:5px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"mail\" title=\"Share by email\" class=\"synved-share-image synved-social-image synved-social-image-share\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" style=\"display: inline;width:24px;height:24px;margin: 0;padding: 0;border: none;box-shadow: none\" src=\"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-content\/plugins\/social-media-feather\/synved-social\/image\/social\/regular\/48x48\/mail.png\" \/><\/a>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the great privileges in being a priest is to be invited into the watershed moments in people\u2019s lives. The priest was there when you were baptized. He saw the gleam in your parent\u2019s eye. He gave you your First Holy Communion, heard your confessions, watched you profess your wedding vows and, to bring [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9259","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-weekly-column"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9259","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9259"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9259\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9267,"href":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9259\/revisions\/9267"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9259"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9259"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9259"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}