February: Day 7: Venerable Luke of Greece

February: Day 7:
Venerable Luke of Greece
 
(On the Grave Sin of Children's Disrespect for Their Parents)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Venerable Luke, whose memory is celebrated today, was born in Hellas to poor farmers, shepherded sheep and worked the land. Even in his youth he was distinguished by extraordinary piety: he was modest, silent, ate little food, he loved to help the poor, often gave them food taken from home for himself, and himself remained hungry. After the death of his father, he secretly went to a monastery. The mother grieved greatly for her son and prayed to God for his return. And what happened? A woman appeared to the abbot of the monastery where Luke labored in a dream more than once and reproachfully said: “Why do you offend me, a poor widow? Return to me, my only son, whom you took, the consolation of my old age, otherwise I will not cease to cry out to God.” The dream was repeated on the second and third night. Then the abbot realized that this dream was an inspiration from God, called Luke to him and began to say to him: “How dare you deceive us? You assured that you have no parents, and yet your mother has been reproaching me for the third night? Return to your mother without delay.” Luke silently bowed to the abbot, said goodbye to the brethren, and went to his mother. Great was the mother’s joy! She thanked God, and then warmly embraced her son. Luke stayed with his mother for four months and, wishing to leave again, began to ask his mother’s permission. His mother blessed him and let him go.

II. Pay attention, brethren, to this story. You notice that the act of young Luke, pious, holy and pleasing to God in itself, did not attract God's blessing to him. This is because he insulted his mother by his self-will, did not appreciate her love and care, refused to live for her peace and comfort and struck her unexpectedly with separation. And therefore, children, do not begin any business, and when you grow up, do not choose any calling, without the advice, consent and blessing of your parents.

What can we say now about the sin of disrespect for parents?

a) Children who are respectful to their parents prosper and live long, according to God's promise, because, not giving in to self-will, but fulfilling the good rules given by their parents, they preserve both body and soul in health and safety. They are accompanied everywhere by parental blessing, which passes on to their offspring, for, as the Wise One notes, "A father's blessing establishes the houses of the children" (Sir. 3:9). Let us recall here Noah's blessing to Japheth: "May God enlarge Japheth." The effect of this blessing continues even now, after several thousand years, in the descendants of Japheth, the Europeans, who do not cease to spread their settlements, trade, power, religion, and customs to all countries of the world.

b) But woe to children who are disrespectful to their parents! The word of God threatens them with great misfortunes. "Cursed is he who dishonors his father or his mother" (Deut. 27:16). "Whoever curses his father or mother, the lamp of his eyes will be put out, and the pupils of his eyes will see darkness" (Prov. 20:20). "A mother's curse uproots the houses of disrespectful children to the ground" (Sir. 3:8).

According to the law of Moses, parents had the right to complain about a son who was unruly and disobedient to the elders of the city, and they, having ascertained the validity of the complaint, condemned him to stoning, which was carried out solemnly by all those present in the popular assembly (Deut. 21:18-21, 27:16).

c) Let us give here several examples of God’s punishment that befell children who were disrespectful to their parents.

Ham, who brazenly insulted his righteous father, Noah, allowing himself to mock him, subjected all his descendants to the wrath of God and a state of slavery.

Judah, the son of Jacob, had a son named Er, who was evil in heart and disobedient, and for this, as the Holy Scripture says, "God killed him" (Gen. 38:7).

The high priest of Israel, Eli, had two sons, but since they were evil, disobedient and not God-fearing, the Lord struck them down while they were still in the prime of their lives and health: they were killed in the war, which was predicted to Eli in advance.

The king and prophet David had an impious son, Absalom, who rebelled against his father and the king in order to seize his throne. But for this he not only failed in his evil plans, but by God's permission he lost his life (2 Kings 15:18).

III. May these examples keep us from the terrible consequences of God's wrath for disrespecting our parents!

 

Source: A Complete Annual Cycle of Short Teachings, Composed for Each Day of the Year. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.