At the end of the Rite of Baptism, prior to the dismissal, there are three blessings of which one is for fathers that reads: “May God bless the father of this child. He and his wife will be the first teachers of their child in the way of the faith. May they be also the best of teachers, bearing witness to the faith by what they say and do, in Christ Jesus our Lord.” It is a beautiful sentiment and provides a path for each father to take as it regards what he should do as a guiding light on behalf of his child’s journey of faith.
In addition, it is a call, challenge and command by God that reminds us He created us out of love and we are to follow in His footsteps and share all He has taught us with those we encounter; especially in our family.
Our readings from the Book of Exodus, the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans and St. Matthew’s Gospel, address how we are to interact with others in the various roles we have been given in life. Fatherhood is one of many, but a most important one in strengthening the Kingdom of God on earth.
God called Moses to Him in the Book of Exodus to remind him of His love for the chosen race of Israelites when He says: “…if you hearken to my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be My special possession.” By being blessed with a child, parents are called to raise a son or daughter as a special person dear to God and them because of God’s love to make sure he or she will live a life of holiness.
Challenge comes with the years of raising a child to balance out their life from God’s perspective versus the world’s need to perpetuate selfishness through amassing wealth, power and fame. St. Paul’s letter to the Romans tells us we must concentrate on how Jesus’ death reconciled us to be justified in His blood and by doing so we focus on God’s salvation for us as we raise children to perpetuate God’s message for all.
Christ’s sympathy for those in need is a paramount command to those baptized in the Catholic faith to reach out beyond their comfort zone. To do that, we must practice our faith and lead our children to do the same through living a sacramental life. By doing so, all involved will become the true disciple Baptism calls, challenges and commands us to be as special followers of the Blessed Trinity.
Let us view this Father’s Day on the eleventh Sunday in Ordinary time as a way of looking deep into our heart, soul, mind and strength of our love for God. In doing so, let us make sure we truly teach the faith we have been given to our children so they will have no other compulsion but to be active as Jesus was on our behalf.
It truly is the faith journey to which those, as fathers, have been blessed at their children’s Baptisms and for their sake as well.
Reading 1: Exodus 19: 2-6a
Reading 2: Romans 5: 6-11
Gospel: Matthew 9: 36 – 10: 8
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