“Paul said to the elders of the Church of Ephesus, “Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you guardians, to feed the Church of the Lord which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.”
Excerpt, First Reading, Wednesday 15th May 2024 – ACTS 20:28-38.
So, parents, particularly the man of the house is responsible for the right moral and spiritual care and upbringing of the family, especially the children.
This gives fact to the saying, “An apple doesn’t fall far away from its tree.”
As a man is, so very likely is his child/children going to turn out to be.
Notwithstanding, as parents, we could strive assiduously and bring up our children as uprightly as demands the society and God, but once we lose guard for a breath’s moment, fierce wolves in man’s disguise will quickly swoop on them for their nefariously corrupt purposes.
The ‘yahooboy’ who butchered his supposed girlfriend sometime ago in Rivers State, Nigeria comes from a home.
The youths that incinerated Deborah in Sokoto State, Nigeria for supposed blasphemy very likely come from homes, each with a father figure.
The youth who falsified her JAMB examinations scores and corruptly accepted prize money for making the highest score also comes from a home with a father and a mother.
The parents of Awwalu Salisu the ‘keke’ (tricycle) rider in Kano State, Nigeria who returned the N10 million someone forgot in his keke would certainly be very proud of him.
As parents, when we do our lot in bringing our children rightly without loosing guard even when they may be temporary away from our immediate reach or environment, we would still be mindful of our responsibilities and obligations toward them.
After doing all we should do and could do, we will commit all others into the care of the Almighty God, just as was with Judas Iscariot whom despite dwelling in the presence of Christ couldn’t be contained.
This is equally akin to a shepherd and members of his congregation.
The chief shepherd is to justly care for the spirituality of his flock, feeding them with what rightly is, what should and what is supposed.
This is the thrust of today’s teaching ☝️above as instructed by Saint Paul to elders of the Church at Ephesus.
Little wonder, members of a particular fellowship or congregation suddenly begin mimicking or outrightly doing as the chief shepherd does.
As parents, the type of influence we weigh on our children, so, it is, with the chief shepherd/Pastor with members of his congregation.
And as children are gifts from heaven, given to us freely as blessings from God, just so, the Apostle says of the congregation in the care of Pastors, as ransomed by the blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
So, my dear friend, as the Apostle Paul sounds today’s warning to Pastors, it shouldn’t also be lost on us as parents, as well as siblings, friends, colleagues at work, business partners, also to teachers, coaches, instructors, etc.
Dear friend, we must take heed to care for whomever God has put in our life as they didn’t occur in our life by mistake.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo