One time a little boy was asked to define Father’s Day and he said, “It’s just like Mother’s Day, only you don’t have to spend as much on the present”.
We thank you Dads for your love and care, for the hardships you have gone through, for the faith you kept, for the lessons you taught, for all that you did to make home a happy a place to live in, for the protection you gave, for the counsel and guidance that led us, for your valuable lessons of life and for the many more things we have taken for granted.
Jesus has pointed to us God as Father, from whom all fatherhood originates. The First Father is the Father of us all. And he created us in His own image and likeness. He is the “Father of orphans, defender of widows, such is God in his holy dwelling “(Psalm 68:5). Father God is loving, “You must see what great love the Father has lavished on us by letting us be called God’s children-which is what we are” (1John 3: 1). He is merciful and compassionate: “While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). Father is generous and gives all that is good and perfect: Make no mistake about this, my dear brothers: all that is good, all that is perfect, is given us from above; it comes down from the father of all light” (James1: 16-17). He is just, faithful, patient, disciplining, holy, wise and foreknowing “My son, do not scorn correction from the Lord, do not resent his training, for the Lord trains those he loves, and chastises every son he accepts” (Hebrews 12:5-6).
Christian men as good fathers ought to love their sons and daughters unconditionally. They have the responsibility to train them in the way they should go (Proverbs22:6) .To be compassionate, loving, merciful, caring, just, holy, inspirational, forgiving, tender- hearted, and kind are some of the good qualities to be learned as a good father.
The readings of this Sunday help us to look into the helplessness of mankind. The whole universe in its order and beauty tells us about a God who is the creator of all things. The natural phenomenon we experience, which often astonish us, the wonders of nature that are beyond any human explanations, tells us that God who has the total control over all the elements of the universe. St. Paul tells us that the love of Christ is shown above all to us by dying on the cross. Christ made the ultimate sacrifice, giving his precious life for each and every one of us so that we may live. The disciples experienced storm in the sea, but Jesus was sound asleep on the boat, when they called out to him for help, Jesus quieted the sea. Storms of life may blow about us, but it is not the exterior storms that pose the gravest danger. The real danger lies within our hearts rather than the dangers we face from out. Storms that rage within us due to the fear, anxiety, helplessness and lack of faith are the greatest dangers that can pose threat to our lives. Unfortunately storms that rage within us cannot be cured by ourselves. It takes the power of God’s love, as revealed in Jesus Christ. He is our only hope of stilling the tempest that can harm our souls and cripple our lives.
“We dishonor his mercy if we say he has failed us. We offend his generosity, if we do not acknowledge his blessings. We blaspheme his goodness if we deny that he has helped and assisted us.” St. Francis de Sales