10 Nov 2019. 32nd Sunday OT. Cycle C-2019. Lk 20:27-38.

The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage… They are like angels; and they are the children of God (Lk 20:34-36).

I envied big families who come to church together and fill up the pew. Although my own marriage is fruitless I grew up with six siblings.

Despite both my parents working, they could not provide material comfort for our family; but each one of my siblings looked after one another. Although my parents fought over how to make both ends meet, they were individually resourceful. That they stuck it out together to raise us up inspired us to endure our own marital challenges.

Even if my parents were too poor to buy toys for us, my siblings and I had a lot of fun playing together. We resourcefully made toys for ourselves. We tipped over a chair to configure a kiddie ride on which we pushed each other around the house. We draped blankets over chairs to make a playhouse. With scissors, paper, needle and thread we made dolls. With hammer and saw we fabricated toy trucks. When we played games, all we needed were our hands and legs, with our childish shrieks providing the thrill. Sometimes we played with kids from smaller but wealthier families. We shared their toys, they shared our joy.

Poverty, plus the inspiration and guidance of our hardworking parents, plus the generosity of concerned relatives motivated us to study hard. Of course, studying hard was also our occasional excuse from doing house chores.

All six of us finished college and are gainfully employed. All six of us help each other out. All six of us help our parents through old age.

Some couples who raise big families may have varying trials and successes, but they all share the joy and satisfaction of having done what the Lord commanded. “God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it’” (Gen 1:28).

ProLifers proliferate.
AntiLifers antiliferate.

As the fearful abort themselves to extinction, the faithful propagate themselves beyond the pews to fill the nation. VSS