Responding to the Gospel through the Decalogue

by Paula Dudgeon

For the second year in a row, students and staff at Holy Redeemer School in Marshall have taken up the call to study, live, and love the Ten Commandments.

Each year a new commandment is chosen as the focus for the year. This year’s focus, which began the first week of Advent, is on the 4th Commandment, "Honor your father and mother."

This Lent, students have been challenged to identify who the authority figures in their lives are and then examine those relationships.

Students have been asked to examine the words they use, their tone of voice, body language and gestures, and their actions when they are away from authority figures. They are to write one person on their list and, if necessary, make amends for their behaviors and to express their gratitude for this person’s role in their life.

Special prayer services for students and families are planned with focus especially around this commandment.

Living the 4th commandment is an opportunity to pray for authority figures, to discern times of failure, and to acknowledge the presence of Jesus in each of these people.