GOD IS A FATHER WHO LOVES, CARES AND PROVIDES FOR HIS CHILDREN.
THURSDAY 17th JUNE, 2021. THURSDAY OF THE ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.
READINGS; 2CORINTHIANS 11:1-11, PSALMS 111:1-4,7-8, MATTHEW 6:7-15.
Today Jesus continues his discourse on prayer, this prayer is addressed to God who is a father to everyone. Therefore, as his children we ought to approach him as our father with trust that he will hear us and come to our aid.
This brings me to reflect on this title of “father”. Who is a father and who qualifies to be given this title? The Catholic Christians have been condemned for many years now for calling their spiritual leaders, the priest with the title “father”.
But though this condemnation is directed towards Catholics today it has become common to call spiritual leaders “papa”, an African term which means “father”, it is a term used to give respect to an elderly person. Many people quote Jesus’ condemning the leadership of the Pharisees and Scribes (Mt 23:9) because they were called Rabbi, teachers and fathers but failed to live according to their titles.
He is today calling God our “Father” because he is indeed a father, he loves, cares, protects and provides for his children. God is ever present to his children that is why we are all being called to approach him in faith and trust believing that he cannot disappoint us.
This my brothers and sisters is also a challenge to the fathers, those who have this title and all leaders and parents, we need to sincerely ask ourselves this question, do we qualify to be called this title? Can people feel comfortable to call us by this title?
Today as Jesus teaches us the Lord’s prayer in which we call God “our father” we are being reminded to take this role of father seriously and be able to be truly fathers to our families by being there for them, loving, caring, protecting and providing for them.
For as biological and spiritual parents on earth we are indeed fathers on earth, therefore, let us live our lives according to the titles we have been given.
LET US PRAY THAT OUR WAY OF LIFE BE A LIFE THAT WILL MAKE PEOPLE SEE THE FATHER FIGURE OF GOD IS US.
Stay blessed and emulate the fatherly etiquette of our heavenly FATHER
