Exodus 20:12

"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you" (Exodus 20:12 RSV).

 

Comment:

The statement you ask about can be found in many places in the Bible; I've chosen its first appearance. The Israelites, freed from their bondage in Egypt, are undertaking the great journey through the wilderness that will ultimately lead them back to their own 'promised land.' Metaphysically, it's a journey we make often, anytime we step away from a confining time or situation, into the unknown of the wilderness. It's an essential journey, so it's important we have a framework of some sort to guide us. The Ten Commandments provide that framework, helping us know what choices will serve our purpose, and which will not. In this case, it's about having respect for our human parents, allowing them to guide us through the basics of this human experience. Of course, if we're ever going to achieve our goal, each generation must move beyond the 'comfort zone' of the preceding. That's how it works. 'Honor' is not the same as 'obey.' It's very possible to disagree with one's parents or to make a choice that seems right to us but wrong to them. What's important is that we appreciate always the roles they play in nurturing and supporting us. Jesus himself clearly had issues with his human parents, and they with him. He did not allow himself to be confined by the fears and limitations that worried them so.  He honored them for who they were, and for the basis they had helped him accomplish so his spiritual work could fully express.

Blessings!

Rev. Ed