The Gift of Honour

​​A Reflection on the First Reading for Sunday, December 28th, 2025:
The Feast of the Holy Family

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Sirach
3.2-6, 12-14

The Lord honours a father above his children,
and he confirms a mother’s rights over her sons.
Whoever honours their father atones for sins
and gains preservation from them;
when they pray, they will be heard.
Whoever respects their mother
is like one who lays up treasure.
The person who honours their father
will have joy in their own children,
and when they pray they will be heard.
Whoever respects their father will have a long life,
and whoever honours their mother obeys the Lord.

​Pause. Pray. Reflect.

As often happens when I start a reflection, I find myself digging deeper to understand the scripture, searching for connections that help me tie what I am reading to how I can apply it to my own life.


This scripture teaches me this: respecting and honouring your parents is one of the most fundamental acts of faith and morality, bringing blessings of forgiveness, protection, successful prayer, happiness in your family, and a long life. (Sirach 3.2–6)


This reading immediately brought up hard questions for me: Have I always honoured my father? Have I always respected my mother? Does this teaching apply to my new in-laws? How has my view of all this changed since I opened my heart to Jesus? My response to those questions is not always, not enough, ugh do I have to, and He is showing me how.


The lasting strain of my parents' divorce, which happened when I was twelve, deeply affected my relationships with both. With my mother, I dealt her all the typical rebellion of a teenager. I inflicted on my father an immature version of me that was confused, angry, and craving more. For a long time, I was mad at my dad because he never tried to create a relationship with me.


The turning point came at different times for each of them. For my father, it was when my brother said, "Dad’s not going to live forever. If you think about it, we will likely only have another 20 birthdays, Christmases, and Father’s Days to celebrate with him." His words hit my heart hard. Why had I never thought of this before? For my mother, who often got the worst of my frustration, the turning point came when I pushed her too far with my requests and she replied with anger, making me realize I had taken her for granted.


In both instances, I knew something had to change. I needed to change.


Since those times, I feel like I am trending toward the second part of this reading (Sirach 3.12-14). I am making solid memories with my dad, like golfing together that included lots of laughs and lessons; and with my mom, it was me who showed patience as we made my wedding dress together. Both these memories and several more are now cherished in my heart.


With Jesus as my guide for this fundamental action, I am learning to see my parents with a loving heart, patience, and as the people they are—to focus on their triumphs with them and let go of their shortcomings and mine with them.


Now I also have in-laws to consider as father and mother... I am working on that daily trying to treat them with dignity and not be judgmental. And it is difficult sometimes.


Our parents are not perfect, but they are to be treasured. God knows this and guides us through with His mercy and grace.




Jacinda Whebby

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