Verse for meditation:

“They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green…”(Ps. 92:14).

 ‘Care for the aged’ is an important subject discussed widely in recent times. The Gerontology department studies scientifically in depth the problems of the aged – the aspects and challenges like social, physical and spiritual. We should recognize the wrinkles at the face of the aged as the experiences of the golden past, the scar at their palms as the sign of their hard work, the white hair as the crown of knowledge and the dim eye site as the lamp post for the new generation. The aged people are being forgotten as the modern new generation tries to live a hurry bury life to cope with the present realities. But God uses the elderly also. Therefore the word of God says that they will bear fruit even at their old age.

1.The Fruitfulness of Abraham (Gen. 17:1-8)

At the age of ninety nine God said to Abraham “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers”. God called Abraham who was old with deteriorating health. He made a covenant with him. The Theology behind ‘accepting the old’ is very clear. The God of the Bible is a God who stands with the weak, the marginalized and the exploited and delivers them. The prayer of David ‘Do not caste me away when I am old … even when I am old and gray do not forsake me, O God’ (Ps.71: 9, 18) is very much heart touching one. Answer to this question is found in Is.46:3,4 “… I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you”. He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak (Is. 40:29).  We could see many instances where God has wonderfully upheld many those who are weak and old. For example the forefathers like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses who was called to deliver the people from the bondage of Egypt, King David, Samuel who was the prophet, priest and judge and Paul the Apostle and John in the New Testament. When Joshua was disappointed God encouraged him saying, “You are very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over” (Jos. 13:1).

2.The fruitfulness of Paul the elder (Phile. 8-22)

This letter was written by Paul to Philemon to accept Onesimus who was a slave and a thief. Now Onesimus is transformed. He is no more a slave but a brother. Paul requests him to forget the past of Onesimus and accept him who has come into the Christian faith. Paul tells him with authority, “… Paul an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ…” We understand that Paul has been laboring hard for the Lord even at his old age and though he was in prison he stood for the gospel. King Solomon has been venerated as the wise man of the wisest but behind him was a team of elderly persons to give him counsel whose names were not even known to anyone. But when his son Rehoboam assumed office as king he rejected the advice of the experienced wise people and accepted the suggestions of the younger people which brought protests from the people and great catastrophes (1King 12:1-8; 2Chro.10:1-8).  The Bible concludes the reign of Rehoboam with these words, “But he rejected the advice of the old men” (1 King 12:8, 13; 2Chro. 108, 13).  Long life is a blessing in the Old Testament. Therefore old men are blessed by God (Ps.128:1-6). They are able to bless others because they are blessed. Jacob as an old man blessed king Pharaoh (Gen. 47:8, 10; 48:1-22). Jacob at his old age blessed all his children. But all those blessings were prophecies. The Jews believe that even today those prophecies are being fulfilled (Gen. 47:8, 10; 48:1-22; 49:1). At the old age Simeon and Hannah praised God seeing Jesus at the temple. Their old age made them prophet and prophetess (Lk.2:25-38). The blessing from an old man would become a prophecy. Gray hair is the sign of holiness in life (Pro. 16:31; Is. 1:18; Rev. 1:14). Since elderly people involve more in meditation and think about eternity and pray, they become more spiritual. Therefore the youth should talk more with these people and receive spiritual visions from them. Most of the national and international leaders are elderly persons. Social and political renovations are caused by the elderly people. Most of the philosophers, scientists, spiritual leaders, and diplomats and decision makers are not young men but elders. Yes, they are God’s own people. According to the Bible, elderly people are teachers of experience, blessed people who bless others, holy people, prayerful and anointed prophets.

3.Problems of the Senior Citizens

The scientific branches like Geriatrics (the study of old age diseses) and Gerontology study the challenges and problems of the senior citizens. Geriatrics society of India is discussing their problems very seriously. Geriatrics India Centre at Cochin conducts a diploma course for the medical doctors in Kerala. The year 1999 was celebrated as ‘the International year of the senior citizens’. According to the census of 2011, India has 79 lakh people as senior citizens of which 32 lakh are above 70 years of age and more than 10 lakh are above 80 years of age. That is to say out of every 11 Indians one is a senior citizen. Kerala has the highest count of aged people – 10.8% that is, out of every 10 Malayalee one is a senior citizen. 33.1% of senior citizens in India have lost their life partner. One out of two senior citizens has chronic diseases and under long term medication. By 2030 the senior citizens will be 1/3 of the total population in India. A major reason for this increase is less mortality rate or rather the extended longevity. Therefore the younger generation should find out on emergency basis the ways and means to take care of their older people on the Biblical basis. Life is more problematic to the senior citizens of cities rather than for those in the villages. Both the nuclear family system and the hurry bury life of the children contribute much towards this. The central government has started distributing 10 kg food materials to the senior citizens in the name of ‘Anna poorna’. Taking into account of the various problems of the senior people, old age homes are at the increase. Out of the 760 old age homes registered, 146 are in Kerala and 122 are in Tamil Nadu. Though some of the sociologists oppose the idea of ‘Old peoples’ homes, the life style of the modern people makes it inevitable. We should take into account the reluctance of the old to stay with the younger ones also. When Jacob was reluctant to go with his son to his place leaving his own home and place, God told him ‘do not be afraid to go to Egypt with your children’ (Gen. 46:2-4). Remember that God spoke to him very personally.

The problems of the senior citizens may be classified under the following heads.

• Issues of health
• Issue of Acceptance
• Issue of Security 
• Issue of Recognition
• Issue of Psychological Disorientation
• Issue of Dependence
• Issue of Mobility

4.The message of the Bible

The Bible reminds us to accept the elderly and to spend time with them, to love them, to listen to their experiences and to stand with them closely. We should take care of all our parents who are in sorrow and sickness. In the Ten Commandments only one is the command with a blessing, “Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you” (Ex. 20:12). The Bible teaches us not only to respect ones own parents but also to respect all elderly people. “Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD” (Lev. 19:32). In the wisdom literature also we find such admonitions in many places (Pro.17:6). When Jesus criticized the false spirituality and man made traditions, he quoted from the Ten Commandments (Matt. 15:1-9; Mk.7:10). Jesus appreciated not the abundance of words but the good deeds. Paul has qualified this as the first commandment with a promise (Eph.6:1-4). He also instructed Timothy to consider elderly men as fathers (1Tim. 5:1).

5.Be fruitful at the old age (Ps. 92; Matt. 7:13-20)

Elderly aged people need not live in loneliness and desperation. The Bible teaches that they should bear fruit even at their old age (Ps. 92:14). Also remember the words of Jesus to bear good fruit. Elderly people should be ready to be useful to God and to the society in all possible ways. 

Prayer

God of covenant, Who declare Your steadfast love in the morning and Your faithfulness by night, Plant us in the house of the Lord, refresh our heart in Christ, empower us to be righteous, enable us to take the narrow road that leads to life, enlighten us with joyful songs of praise, So that we may flourish like palm tree, to be useful brothers, sisters and neighbours, and give fruits even in our old age, Through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever more. Amen.