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"My son, take care of your father when he is old; grieve him not as long as he lives.
Even if his mind fail, be considerate with him; revile him not in the fullness of your strength. For kindness to a father will not be forgotten, it will serve as a sin offering—it will take lasting root” (Sirach 3:12-14).
It was the first Sunday after Christmas, the feast of the Holy Family, and the reading from Sirach hit me hard. A doctor had just confirmed that my father’s forgetfulness, repetitiveness, and uncharacteristic paranoia were beyond the normal range for someone his age. Yes, Dad had Alzheimer’s.
“Even if his mind fail, be considerate with him” (Sirach 3:13). I knew it wouldn’t be easy to follow Sirach’s exhortation to patience. But along with grief and fear, I felt a deep sense of gratitude as I listened to that reading, for God had already been preparing me for the…
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