“… So that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father.” (John 5:23)
During his earthly life, Jesus repeatedly declared that his primary purpose was to do only what the Father wanted of him and to speak only the words that the Father gave him (John 4:34; 6:38; 8:28). His whole life was dedicated to bringing honor to his Father—to the point that on the night before he was arrested, he asked the Father to glorify him through his death only “so that your son may glorify you” (17:1).
What a model for us! How praiseworthy it is for us to love and honor one another, just as Jesus loved and honored his Father!
What we honor—what we respect, esteem, and revere—demonstrates what we value. Scripture tells us that husbands and wives should honor each other out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21-33). It tells us to honor our parents and to show respect for the elderly (Exodus 20:12; Leviticus 19:32). Children, too, are called to obey their parents, “for this is pleasing to the Lord” (Colossians 3:20).
The circle of honor extends beyond family members to include our friends, our neighbors, and coworkers. It involves the unborn and the deceased, those who are weak, and those who are different from us. Ultimately, because we are all created in the image and likeness of God, every single soul on earth is deserving of our respect and consideration.
God wants us to show honor and respect not just by our words but by our actions as well. He wants us to treat other people as more important than ourselves and look to their interests above our own (Philippians 2:3-5). In short, he wants us to be like Jesus, who honors his Father so completely that he treats everyone— sinners that we all are—with the utmost respect and dignity. For he knows that when we honor the people in our lives, we also bring honor to God.
May we strive to “give honor to all, love the community, and fear God” (1 Peter 2:17).
“Lord, help us to build a culture of honor and respect in our homes, in our parishes, in our schools, and in our communities. May our lives give you glory in all things.”
Isaiah 49:8-15;
Psalm 145:8-9,13-14,17-18
Our Lady's Promise is a Catholic Lay Franciscan Apostolate dedicated to evangelism and daily use of Our Lady's gifts of the Scapular and Holy Rosary.