REFLECTION FROM THE SPIRITUAL ADVISER’S DESK

“THE ELDERLY, LIGHT AND SALT TO THE WORLD”

(Mathew 5:13-16)

Thanks to the founding of the office for the elderly and children at the Dicastery of the Laity, Family and Life at the Vatican.  This office, opportune and headed by Dr. V. Scelzo, throws a great light to the hopes of the seniors who are confronted with situations of dangers as the society, “tends to forget the elders due to their fragility and vulnerability”, as Pope Francis stated, “but the Lord has not abandoned them”.

New light has shone on the Elders to reassure them that Society must not consider old age as “a curse” but “a sign of blessing” and so help them give meaning to the years remaining in life.  This means they must, as experienced, talented people, through their wisdom and experience, be true leaders, teachers, protagonists and evangelizers, uniting with visions of the young in order to transmit the faith to the society.

New light has shone on the Elders as Gabriela Gambino said that “the Church wants to listen to the cry of the voiceless of those who cannot be heard”. The Pope requests the elderly and leaders to listen to the signs of the times, magisterium and our personal call and experience.  Then our wisdom will enable our light to shine through our good thoughts, words and deeds for the world to see and give glory to God our Father in heaven (Mt 5:16).  The human wisdom is power of God to the seniors for evangelization. 

We must know our value, identity and solidarity and not be a burden.  Pope Francis reiterates this: “This time is different as our society is not ready to give old age the value it desires”.  Being receptive to prayer, medicine and health care, the elderly must prove through their apostolate and solidarity to be teachers of the new generation as its protagonists.

Living in families and being responsible for the upbringing of people, the young must see the wisdom and fitness of the seniors and have an alliance between them.  This is the time to the evangelized by the seniors Pope Francis puts this well: “Young care for the seniors and seniors enlighten the young to show God’s presence and hope for the future; thus the spirit of sharing the talents, experience wisdom and fruits of life will depend on harmony, continuity and mutual love between generations, the elderly being the basis of the development”.

The work of transmitting the faith through words and deeds by the elderly will greatly be an impulse for the young to seek and cling to the elderly as true protagonists as a child clings to its mother. The elders must be faithful evangelizers through dialogue and wisdom to the coming generations: “Woe to me if I don’t preach the Gospel” St. Paul 1 Cor.9:16, by being light and salt to the world.

Pope Francis: “The Lord can and wants to write with us (the Elderly) new pages of holiness, of service and of prayer” the three pillars enabling us to be real light and salt to the world.

We all must pray for a closer cooperation between Life Ascending International and the office of the Elderly at the Dicastery of the Laity, Life Children and Elderly so as to support and enhance evangelization by Elderly.

The elderly are a bridge of transmission of knowledge, wisdom, experience to the young generations for development. We have to use our experience and talents to overcome life challenges facing the world and threatening peace, harmony, happiness and human advancement.

Rev. Father Gregory Mashtaki

for and on behalf of

English Speaking African Countries.