How many of you remember something humorous about your Dad?
I can! When my two brothers and I were youngsters, my father took us shopping periodically for suits. I remember dad saying to the salesman: “I want to see the cheapest suit in the store?” and the salesman looked him in the eye and said: “you’re wearing it.” Luckily, my father had a sense of humor.
The word “father” or “dad” evokes many images. I can think of certain qualities my father possessed in abundance: love, commitment, support. Communication (we spent time together, especially at the dinner table). Faith (we went to church together). Forgiveness (a two-way street, and he wasn’t afraid to say he’s sorry). Yes, fathers indeed are a blessing.
In honor of Fathers’ Day, let’s have all fathers here stand up for a round of applause.
So, what does the word of God say to us today?
In the seventh century before Jesus, a lament of the prophet Jeremiah quickly becomes a message of hope.
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.
He may be asking us: do we always trust God, especially when what is happening is the opposite of what we want.
Paul in his letter to the Christian community at Rome reflects upon the human condition; he sees violence, death, and injustice. 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. Paul may be asking: how are we growing in that relationship?
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.
One of my favorite books in college was Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. In the Austria of the 1930s, he had a family, a good profession as a psychiatrist and a comfortable home. But he lost these, every earthly thing he treasured, especially family, in the Nazi death camps of WW II.
These losses brought him face-to-face with the fundamental questions of human life: How should I live now? What on earth am I here for?
Frankl discovered that people could put up with incredible sufferings, without losing their will to live and their respect for others, if they saw that these hardships had some greater meaning.
In their hearts, people yearn for something or someone beyond themselves to live for. This can take different forms: family, a profession, a passion for the greater common good, a righteous cause, etc. When a person finds something that gives transcendent meaning to life, that purpose awakens new energies. They see more, live better and, in short, they become men and women of faith.
We are by nature believers. Think of all the things we presume will work without really checking them out. For example, I didn’t see anyone testing the stability of the church pew before they sat down.
Our Christian faith of course is radically different. It is a gift from God through baptism that empowers us to relate to the triune God as our creator, redeemer and sanctifier. Faith is richer and deeper than belief. Our Catholic faith calls us to commit ourselves to Jesus, to follow Him who is our way to eternal life, our truth who sets us free from so many falsehoods and our light who illuminates the darkness as we journey toward our heavenly home. Faith is about connectedness to Jesus. It’s relational.
Belief is a profession of the essential truths of our faith, as in the 4th century Nicene Creed that we proclaim every Sunday. We say: “I believe in one God” despite many who question the existence of God.
We say: our God is almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. Yes, there is One completely Other and beyond ourselves, who sustains and guides everything that is to an ultimate purpose.
And yes, we believe in one lord, Jesus Christ. He came down from heaven for us. He heals our brokenness. He invites us into His triune life forever.
Jesus who for our sake was crucified, died, was buried and rose again is our reconciler; and his resurrection anticipates our own indescribable life beyond this earthly life.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the lord, the giver of life. The power of the Spirit is within us and empowers us to pursue our true destiny—while doing good for others today.
We believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic community of disciples, and we look toward resurrection and the life to come.
What we believe truly matters. Our faith is the “binoculars” through which we see what lies beyond immediate appearances: the reality and presence of God all around us, within us, and in one another, a presence that sustains and guides the universe.
Pope St. John Paul II 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.” And so let us continue to live lives worthy of our status as sons and daughters of God our Father. Amen
