You might think the fourth commandment “honor your father and mother” is just for kids… but actually it applies to you too. 

🏡 Honoring Beyond Obedience

The Fourth Commandment does include obedience when you’re young like the classic “listen to your mom and dad” and “do your chores” thing. But the Catechism of the Catholic Church, in paragraph 2197, reminds us that this commandment reveals the order of charity. When we’re children, the very next people we’re called to love after, God, are our parents. This is because we owe them our life, and everything they’ve poured into raising us.

🕊️ The Family as a Reflection of God

The family, according to the Catechism, is a “communion of persons” that reflects the Holy Trinity. (CCC 2205) Your family—even with all its imperfections—has a divine origin and purpose.

The family is called the domestic church—the place where we first learn to love, forgive, pray, and serve. It’s in family life that we begin to understand who God is, what love looks like, and how we’re meant to live in the world. (CCC 2204–2206)

💬 Respect Goes Both Ways

Honoring your parents continues on into adulthood. CCC 2218 tells us that adult children should give their parents material and moral support, especially in times of illness or loneliness. Think of the dignity that brings—to care for the ones who once cared for us.

But also, parents have responsibilities too! The Catechism says that parents are called to be the first teachers of the faith. (CCC 2221) That means they’re supposed to help their children grow not just physically, but spiritually—to create a home full of love, forgiveness, respect, and virtue.

This is a mutual calling. Parents honor their children by seeing them as children of God, not extensions of their own ego or dreams. They guide them, but they also give them the freedom to follow God’s call, not just Mom and Dad’s expectations. (CCC 2230)

👨‍🏫 Not Just Families—Also Bosses, Teachers, Leaders

But this commandment isn’t just about family. It also extends to anyone who has a rightful authority in our lives. This includes teachers, leaders, pastors, employers… even the government. CCC 2199 points out that this honor extends to society at large. It’s about living with gratitude and respect, even when it’s not always easy.

✨ So… What About You?

So what about you?

Who are the people in your life that you are called to honor? Maybe it’s your aging parents. Maybe it’s that boss who challenges you. Maybe it’s being a parent yourself and realizing the weight of that responsibility.

Here are some things to ask yourself:

-How intentional am I in honoring my parents, even now as an adult?

-Do I lead with love and virtue in my own household?

-Am I respectful to those in authority, even when I disagree?

-Do I live in a way that shows gratitude for those who have helped form me?

The 4th Commandment isn’t about power or rigid obedience. It’s about love, honor, gratitude, and mutual responsibility. When we live it out, our families and communities start to reflect something much bigger—the heart of God Himself.

So, wherever you are today—whether you’re a parent, child, employee, or student, ask yourself: How can I live the 4th Commandment more fully? You might just find more peace and harmony in your relationships… and also in your soul.

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