The Christian Family - A Centripetal Force
A great deal of attention and much discussion has recently centered on a subject that should interest Holy Name Society members tremendously. It is the state of the American family. The family is a microcosm of the Church; it has an important place in God’s plan for the salvation of individual souls throughout the world.
There is growing unrest today among Holy Name Society members on what is believed to be a decline in family values. Family values can best be described as the values or beliefs that provide for a safe and secure environment for children to learn true moral values as taught to us by our Christian faith – values that keep a family in harmony and peace.
There seems to be a “centrifugal” force at work in our families. This describes the phenomenon that seems to pull our families apart, a force that should concern us greatly. The word centrifugal means literally to flee the center or fly from the center. A simple dictionary definition speaks of a force or action proceeding away from a center (see pictorial above). Scientists speak of this as a force that an object moving along a circular path exerts on that object constraining the object and acts outwardly driving it away from the center of rotation. An example would be a stone whirled on a string exerts centrifugal force on the string. The opposite force is called "centripetal" force i.e. “seeking the center” and so proceeding in a direction to the center of rotation – a force directly opposed to centrifugal force.
What has this foray into and reflection on science have to do with the social phenomenon of the family and family life? Science on all levels is focused on interpreting and understanding the reality of our physical environment, with the primary aim to fully understand the truth of God’s wonderful creation. The human family can be expected to be subject to and affected by the same kind of natural forces - that is centrifugal force (fleeing the center, driving apart) and centripetal force (seeking the center a unity or harmony of parts. I believe the history of human behavior illustrates the fact that human beings; who are meant by their Creator to be in union, in harmony and at peace with one another, have historically failed to meet this calling. World history is replete with wars, genocides, discriminations, persecutions and oppressions that have polarized people of different races, religions, nationality and ethnicity.
I believe many social blights today are caused by the faulty dynamics of human family life. Our families have undergone tremendous centrifugal forces over the past 50 years. The suburban life style often drives the breadwinner(s) to spend a good bit of each day getting to and coming from the workplace. A typical family hardly meets one another except in a sort of perfunctory way morning and night (if even that). Families do not talk with one another; they do not often even eat with one another (a fine opportunity for discussions and communication).
There are so many elements to drive families apart in today’s culture – where far too many families are focused on getting material possessions and not enough on listening to and learning God’s plan for families –which has been clearly laid out in the Gospels. The stability of family life is greatly disrupted by the lack of parental interaction with growing children. We hear of the “latchkey” child. Home alone with no one to guide or even share their experiences, it is no wonder that many young people fall prey to many social evils. Why do we read of so much misery and violence among and within families? The emotional, physical and spiritual emptiness many families experience causes children to investigate and experiment with the culture of darkness - sex, drugs, gangs and violence.
But there is hope. A focus on God and His plan for the elements that bring together husband / wife, brother/sister , child/parent is possible. The teaching and example of Jesus Christ and the Nazareth Family and the knowledge and practice of the Gospel values will bring together what is now so sadly missing in today’s materialistic families. There IS a centripetal force: Jesus, Mary and Joseph - the Holy Family - can help us to make our families places of love, joy, peace, happiness, comfort, protection and health. The Holy Family can guide all parents to emulate and radiate the love of Jesus Christ - all we need to do is pray for their guidance.
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