AS A FATHER
INTRODUCTION
The title of my words for today is, “As A Father”.
Instead of a homily for today - Father's Day - it hit me yesterday - to present a list of hopes and prayers - for what I would hope and
pray - a Christian Father would see – hope for – pray for – be - and do.
Today is also the feast of the Most Holy Trinity – and I would
state – that how we see God, how we experience God – stems very much - from how we see and experience our father
who art on earth – our dad. That is scary. That is profound. That is quite a
responsibility and honor - for any father and mother – grandfather and grandmother –
teacher or guardian. We learn from the visible before we grasp the invisibles.
We go from the known to the unknown. We experience our parents – family –
others – the other kids in the playground and school and park – and parties
- before we experience our God – who we
Christians believe - is a Trinity – 3 persons
– who are 1 – because of their deepest love and union with each other.
If we grow up with rigid rules – stone commandments – severe
condemnations – and punishments - perhaps
that’s how we’ll see God and how we’ll do life. If that was our experience,
perhaps too, we won’t get the new commandments of love – coming from Jesus –
who told us he was telling us what he was getting from his Father – our God –
who as we heard in today’s gospel – is a God who so loved the world that he
gave his only son – so that everyone who believes in God might not perish but
might have eternal life.
So I would urge all the fathers here to make a list of
what their hopes and prayers are for – for their children and all the children
of our world.
Being someone called “father”, I thought I can do this too. In fact, I better do this first – to make a list – to
do that homework - in hopes that the fathers here – would follow my example.
Hopefully that would make today - Father’s Day – not just a day to hear “Thank
you!” as a father – but that it might be
a day of renewal for all fathers as well.
A WISH LIST
So here’s my list:
As a father, I hope and pray - there will be no father –
who will not hear from someone one today, “Happy Father’s Day!”
As a father, I hope and pray – for more – much more than
that - that all fathers get new bow ties, conversation starters at that, brunch, lunch, cards, phone calls if they
are at a distance – and they hear in their children’s voices – the wonderful
tones that can be heard in a rich, “Thank you, dad.”
As a father, I hope and pray all fathers today renew
their role as fathers – concern and care for the next generation.
As a father, I
hope and pray a prayer of thanksgiving for
all fathers this day – especially my own dad – and that you do the same. If
you’re sitting here, you have a dad. I
love to quote Groucho Marx in this context – when he said, “If your parents
didn’t have any kids, chances are you won’t too.” My dad was quite a guy – and
a quiet guy. He died – Friday - June 26, 1970 – emphysema – a week after
Father’s Day. Thank you God, for letting me and all our family be there in Moses Maimonides Hospital, Brooklyn, New York that afternoon at 2 PM.
Thank you for letting me spot a couple
in the lobby – leaving the hospital at the same time as us – with their new born baby
As a father, I hope and pray that all of you have neat
photographs of your dad – in a prominent
place in your home – as well as pictures of you with your dad. I cherish
several black and white photographs.
There I am a tiny little two year old in my dad’s arms – Bliss Park –
Brooklyn, N. Y. I smile that they were still taking pictures even though I was the
fourth and last kid.
As a father, I hope and pray – all of us grab some time
today – to pinch ourselves – to marvel at all the circumstances, events,
zillions and zillions and zillions of them – like dominos falling – that had to
happen to make us happen – our father being most significant – the moment we
were conceived
in our mother’s womb. I often think of Carl Sagan’s comment in this regard: “If you wish to make an apple pie from
scratch, you must first invent the universe.” So too each of us.
As a father, I hope and pray Christian fathers will see
and will be what the Trinity is: relationships. It’s all about relationships –
connections – we’re made in the image and likeness of God. It’s not good to be
or go it alone. We are because of our parents. We are fathers because of others
– spouses, children, those we care and serve.
As a father, I hope and pray we do some deep thinking
today about our own fathers – part of the duo who brought us forth – if there
is any need for deeper conversations, comment, talk and listening – if they are
alive – do it. If they are dead – let them know our thoughts and feelings in
prayer today. If possible, tape and write down history. Watch an older person’s
face light up, when we give them undivided attention – and ask, “What was it
like when…?”
As a father, I hope and pray we care with mothers and
others - for the earth – our home for generations to come.
As a father, I hope and prayer these girls in Africa are
found – and returned home safe and sound.
As a father, I hope and pray that churches and schools,
groups and organization, get it together for more watchdog vigilance and
concern to stop abuse of children and minors.
As a father, I hope and pray - that - if there is any need for forgiveness
– unless bringing up the past causes
eruptions and family earthquakes – that forgiveness be given and forgiveness be
received. Many weekends – when I have a wedding – I see families where there
was a divorce – handle the rehearsal and the wedding – with care and concern for
each other – especially the couple getting married. Mistakes – disasters –
crashes and clashes happen. Sometimes, “I forgive you!” is a thousand times
more important than “I love you.”
CONLUSION
Hope everyone – especially dads – have a Happy Father’s
Day.
Note:
Picture on top
taken in Helsinki, Finland
