WORDS FROM FATHER YOHANES: Hansel and Gretel — A Story of Hope and Family Reunion

By Father Yohanes Akoit

There is a story, and I guess most European and American people know it very well. Even the millennial generation is familiar with it. The name of the story is Hansel and Gretel. This story originated as a German folk tale, but later it spread through printed books, translations, children's literature, opera, and film, becoming well known throughout the world. As the story moved from one country to another, different versions, moral values, and interpretations emerged. Yet the basic story remained recognizable. The story is about two siblings named Hansel and Gretel. They were abandoned in the forest by their cruel foster mother and their weak father, who was controlled by his wife. In the forest, they encountered a house made of sweets that was owned by a witch who intended to eat them. However, the two siblings managed to escape. They killed the witch, found a hidden treasure, and returned home. There, they learned that their cruel foster mother had died, while their father was still alive. At last, they were able to reunite with him. The moral value of this story can be viewed from different perspectives. This time, I would like to reflect on it from the perspective of family life. And we can do this by comparing the story with the reality of Catholic families today.

When we compare the two, we see that Hansel and Gretel were abandoned because there was no longer enough food for the family. As a result, their parents decided to leave them in the forest. In contrast, parents today love their children deeply. They raise and educate them with the hope that they will remain close to their family and faithful to the Catholic faith. Yet reality has its own dynamics. Children sometimes choose a different way of life. Some no longer practice the faith, and others even change their beliefs. This brings sadness and a heavy burden to their parents. Such experiences can sometimes weaken the faith of parents. However, they continue to do their best and remain strong. They move forward, become reconciled with reality, and still maintain great hope for unity in faith. Day and night, they pray for the good of their children. There is no one to blame. Life has its own rhythms, but at the same time we believe God will continues to guide our journey. Therefore, we pray for families who are going through this experience. We ask God to bless them and their children wherever they may be. We also hope that the story of Hansel and Gretel may become their story and inspiration; that the children can make their way home on their own.

And if there are parents who are going through the same situation today, they need to remember that the story has only begun. Sometimes it takes time to find the way back home. But like Hansel and Gretel, children are granted with gifts and abilities. Therefore, life will teach them how to use it to find the way back home. And the love of parents is also greater than any reason for separation. In time, that love has the power to bring them together again. We find a similar inspiration in the Gospel for the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. The tenants tried to take possession of the landowner's property and even killed his son (Matthew 21:33-43). They wanted to destroy the landowner's family. Yet they could not succeed, because the unity of family life is greater than any evil plan. Although families face many challenges, God always protects them and their members. We offer this small reflection and entrust all the family members of St. Julian and St. Anthony Churches into the loving and guiding hands of God.

Father Yohanes Akoit is pastor of St. Julian and St. Anthony Catholic churches in Kentucky.