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| Rembrandt's Storm on the Sea of Galilee |
The word “father” or “dad” evokes many images. My father had a sense of humor. He possessed in abundance, as all good fathers do, love, commitment, support. Communication (we spent time together, especially at the family dinner tqble). Faith (we went to church together). And forgiveness (and he wasn’t afraid to say he’s sorry). A father is a blessing.
So, what did the word of God say to us Sunday?
In the seventh century before Jesus, Jeremiah complains to God: “I'm trying to do what you want me to do, and yet people are slandering me; they want to trip me up.”That happens sometimes to us. Some people make life difficult.
But Jeremiah doesn't let these problems stop him. He will always trust in God. Jeremiah exemplifies courage and perseverance in doing good, in the face of all kinds of obstacles.
St. Paul in his letter to the Christian community at Rome reflects upon the human condition; he sees violence, death, and injustice everywhere. Who can save us, Paul asks? Jesus Christ, of course. Jesus righted our relationship with God and one another. Because Christ lives, we live in relationship with God.
In the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus says three times: “do not be afraid.” Yes, do the right thing, no worries. God is with us. Have faith in God.
Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl discovered that people could put up with incredible sufferings, if they saw that these hardships had some greater meaning. In their hearts, people yearn for something or someone beyond themselves. When a person finds something that gives transcendent meaning to life, they see more, live better and, in short, they become men and women of faith.
We are by nature believers. Our Christian faith is radically different. It is a gift from God through baptism that empowers us to relate to the triune God as creator, redeemer and sanctifier. Faith is richer and deeper than belief. Faith is about connectedness to Jesus; it's relational. '' Belief is a profession of the essential truths of our faith as in the Nicene Creed we proclaim every Sunday.
Pope St. John Paul II, who often encouraged us to live fearlessly, wrote:
“It is no accident that we are here. Each and every human person has been created in the ‘image and likeness’ of the One who is the origin of all that is. We have within us the capacity for wisdom and virtue. With these gifts, and with the help of God’s grace, we, a faith-filled people, can build a civilization worthy of the human person.” So let us continue to live lives worthy of our status as sons and daughters of God our Father.
