Love Our Father
Like a Child
with Complete Abandonment this
Father’s Day
As we
celebrate
Father's Day this year, we have many fathers to love
and honor, either living or those who are with us in spirit.
The most obvious are our own fathers, step-dads,
grandfathers, uncles or brothers who continually give
endless acts of selflessness, courage-ness and love.
Like most
people, my family plans a special day of celebration for
Dad, and grandpa or uncles if they are in town. My children
love to go shopping with me so they can help pick out the
gift, such as tie, golf shirt or tees, or something related
to barbecuing on the grill. You know, those dad-type
presents we all buy those special men in our lives.
Then, we
plan the activities for the day, such as having a family
cookout or picnic, or maybe fishing at a lake or going to
our neighborhood pool for a swim. Regardless of how we
celebrate, it’s about showing Dad how much we care and want
to spend this special day in his presence.
Like these
important father figures, there are other fathers we should
honor. Such as our church fathers that
commit their entire lives attending to our spiritual,
pastoral, moral, and educational needs. We truly are
blessed in this parish to have such wonderful and caring
priests and deacons serving us on a daily basis. Let’s
remember to thank them and say a special prayer so they may
continue to minister to us now and in the future.
Most importantly, it’s a time to remember our Heavenly
Father's presence in our own lives. Taking time to reflect
on the many blessings he has bestowed upon us. Ultimately,
he is the father we will answer to, and if we live according
to his will and ways, we will meet him in the home he has
prepared for us in heaven.
“Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of
my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.” (Psalm 23:6)
And when we take time to praise God, it’s perfectly ok to
behave like children. I mean, who else has the ability to
love with sheer boldness and abandonment? I once heard we
should pray the way children talk to their father. For me,
that means praying with a complete openness and trust that
knows no limits or boundaries. As I watch the innocent
prayers of my two children, I understand it’s really that
simple to demonstrate our love for God the Father. Let’s
love with a boldness and abandonment this Father’s Day like
no other. Let’s make it one to remember.
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