Isaac and Rebekah were not the best parents. They each favored different sons (Gn 25:28). This created division in their family. Eventually, Rebekah helped her favorite son, Jacob, deceive Isaac, and steal the birthright of his favorite son, Esau (Gn 27:6ff).

Jacob was not the best parent. Like his parents, he favored one of his sons, Joseph (Gn 37:3). This created more division in his family. Eventually, his less favored sons attempted to murder Joseph (Gn 37:22ff). They changed their minds and sold Joseph into slavery (Gn 37:28), lied to their father for years (Gn 37:31-32), and broke his heart (Gn 37:34-35). "What goes around, comes around." "Those who plow for mischief and sow trouble, reap the same" (Jb 4:8).

By injustice, division, and deception, are you setting the stage for catastrophes in your family for generations? Are we setting the stage for another world war or the massacre of the elderly in addition to the babies in the womb? Let us break the vicious cycles of sins by being born again in Baptism and by living our Baptisms. Only in Christ will we be freed from being victims of past generations. "This means that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old order has passed away; now all is new!" (2 Cor 5:17)

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, July 28, 1999

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 3, 1999