The Father Almighty

God as Father. How do we fit this image into our lives today? Some people have valid concerns that fathers today do not live up to what a father truly is to be, as defined by God. Since some men have misunderstood, misinterpreted and misused the role as father, sons and daughters have grown up with a skewed concept as to what a father should be, and how he was supposed to influence their lives.

I will not venture to delve into the psychological and sociological aspects of this deficiency in our culture. I will, however, attempt to bring to light the nature of God the Father Almighty as it is understood by the Church.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

240      Jesus revealed that God is Father in an unheard-of sense: he is Father not only in being Creator; he is eternally Father in relation to his only Son, who is eternally Son only in relation to his Father: “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” (Matthew 11:27)

While the Israelites wandered in the desert with Moses and listened to the prophets, they had know the name of God as 'I Am Who Am' - YHWH. They knew He was their Father and that He provided for them, but still they strayed. The prophets pleaded, chastised, demanded and cried for their people to know this love and return it to God, but hearts became hard still. And as a Good Father, God loved them always.

That is precisely what Jesus came to do, to reveal God the Father as no prophet ever could.  Not only does He know the Father in ways which sometimes are distant to us, but He can bring us closer to the Father by our relationship with Him! Jesus, as the Son, can reveal to us the immense love that the Father has for us and how we can love Him in return.

Our role as Catholics, is to fully enter into the love of God the Father and allow Him to be that great and glorious Father who is fully present, fully involved and intimately desires to be with us forever. This is why we celebrate mass on Sundays, to be present and involved with God, to remind us of that love that He has through Jesus Christ His Son and to worship and praise Him above all things. So many have said "I get nothing out of mass...", well - that's not why we go! We go to GIVE! We go to be present to Him! And in return, He showers us with gifts! The gift of His Son, the gift of His mercy, the gift of his grace, the gift of His peace - endless gifts. In receiving these gifts, we should not answer with expecting more, we should raise our hands and hearts in gratitude of our wonderful Father who has given us life.

Let us pray to the Father that He reveal Himself to us through His Son every day. Let us pray that we grow in love and charity every day, and let us pray that we may rest in His Presence on our final day and live with Him in eternity. Amen.

I hope I have enlightened you at least a little on this topic and may God bless you all in this New Year - The Year of Faith!

Deacon Jimmy