PASSING ON THE GIFT OF FAITH

Godparents and Grandparents Sunday

Fr Luke A. Veronis

Today in our Saints Constantine and Helen Church in Webster we celebrate and give thanks for some very special people in our lives – our Godparents and Grandparents. It’s a day to thank God to those who have helped pass on to us the most precious gift we can ever receive: the gift of faith.

When we think about faith, we realize it is not something we are born with. It’s not inherited through blood or DNA. It’s a gift nurtured—taught, modeled, and lived—through the love and example of others. And often, these “others” are our grandparents and godparents.

Saint Paul, in his second letter to Timothy, wrote something quite touching to his beloved disciple Timothy. He said, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and now I am sure, lives in you also.” (2 Timothy 1:5)

What a beautiful image! Three generations bound together by faith—grandmother, mother, and child. The Apostle Paul reminds us that the faith we see in our children is often the fruit of what has been planted and watered by their elders.

Many of us here can probably relate to this. How many of us first learned to make the sign of the cross from a grandparent? How many remember sitting next to them in church, watching them light candles, whispering the prayers under their breath, lighting their “themeato” (their censor) every morning? How many of us remember the stories they told about the lives of the saints, or Bible stories, or the way they fasted quietly without complaint and how they prayed for us every night?

ur grandparents are often the some of most important and maybe even first icons of love and faith that we encounter. Even when they are no longer with us, their prayers continue to strengthen us, because love never dies. Their faith becomes part of our inheritance—a spiritual inheritance far greater than any material one.

In a similar way, our GODPARENTS are spiritual grandparents, uncles, aunts, and guides in faith. At our baptism, they made solemn promises before God to help raise us in the life of Christ—to teach us how to pray, to encourage us to receive the sacraments, to remind us of our calling to live as children of God.

Unfortunately, in today’s world, it’s easy for that role to be forgotten. Godparents can become more like honorary titles—people who show up at the baptism and maybe a name on a card once a year. But the Church invites us to rediscover what a godparent truly is. A godparent is a spiritual mentor, a prayer partner, and a living witness of faith.

When the priest asks at baptism, “Do you renounce Satan? Do you unite yourself to Christ?”—the godparent answers those questions on behalf of the child. But throughout life, that godparent continues to help the child live those answers—to keep saying, “Yes, I unite myself to Christ” every day.

Grandparents and godparents both share a sacred mission: to help our children and godchildren encounter Christ, know Christ, and welcome Jesus in our lives. These important figures in our lives remind their grandchildren and godchildren that life is not just about success, careers, money, entertainment and comfort—but life is about becoming holy, become saints, it’s about growing in love and humility, mercy and compassion.

We live in a world that is constantly trying to distract, deceive and shape the hearts of our young people according to the world’s values. Social media, consumerism, endless screens—all can drown out the still, small voice of God. We godparents and grandparents need to model a good example of faith. By the faith you offer, the example you show, the prayers you say every day, you become a light in darkness and show others the path of light. We are the living link between the Church of the past and the Church of the future.

Saint Paisios once said, “The greatest inheritance a person can leave to his children and grandchildren is not money or property, but faith and prayer.” Think about that and ask yourselves if you are truly leaving this inheritance!

When you take your grandchildren to church, when you teach your godchild how to cross themselves, when you pray for them every night, you are planting seeds that may not sprout immediately—but in time, those seeds will grow.

And to all our children and grandchildren, remember this: Your grandparents and godparents are not perfect people, but they love you deeply and pray for you constantly. Take time to talk to them, ask them about their faith, eagerly learn from their lives. There’s wisdom there that you won’t find on your phone or in your textbooks.

Ask your grandmother how she kept her faith through hard times. Ask your godfather what prayer means to him. Ask them at this stage of life what they find most meaningful. These conversations will become treasures in your heart.

Thus, today on our Godparents and Grandparents Sunday, it is not simply a day of celebration and remembrance but I pray it also acts as a day of renewal. Godparents, reach out more often to your godchildren—pray with them, attend liturgy together, write them notes of encouragement. Grandparents, continue being that quiet, steadfast presence of faith in your families. And parents—make sure your children stay connected to these spiritual anchors in their lives.

Our goal, as the Church, is to build a community where faith is lived across generations. Where the wisdom of the elders and the energy of the young come together in the Body of Christ.

So today, let us give thanks:

For our grandparents who have prayed for us, guided us, offered a beautiful witness ot us, and have shown us Christ through their love.

• For our godparents who stood at the baptismal font and have walked with us on our journey of faith.
• And for all our children and grandchildren, that they may embrace the faith of their forebearers and live out the faith, bearing fruit and carrying it forward to the next generation.

God bless all our grandparents and godparents, and grandchildren and godchildren with many years! May we all, together, continue to live out the gift of faith and pass on this most precious treasure of faith, hope, and love in Jesus Christ our Lord.