By Fr. Glenn Jones:
A very happy and joy-filled and blessed Fathers’ Day to all you dads out there! You have that honor and privilege to have sired and, with their mothers, to be entrusted with care and teaching of God’s precious little ones—your children … those little images of God that we all are, but the little ones with the innocence that we adults have often lost but are called by Christ to emulate: “Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me…” (Matthew 18:4-5) We are all called to emulate that innocence, yes, but not with child-like naiveté, for dads (along with moms, as well as all of society) are entrusted with their safekeeping not only by protecting and nurturing them, but by being examples for them.
Material safekeeping and provision is vital, yes, but even more so is their spiritual well-being. As the little ones mature, we are to teach them as Jesus advises us to be: “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16) … that innocence being manifest in those fruits of the Spirit, and thus of a good life: “… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23) Again, as cited many times in this column, one might remember that aphorism from the movie “Kingdom of Heaven”: “What man IS a man that does not make the world better?” Well, dads … helping to raise your kids to be good men and women is your greatest chance to do that—to be the wheat that produces fruit, which will in turn produce its own fruit as well in exponentially growing harvest.
We priests are called “Father” to be spiritual guides—and more so, servants—to God’s faithful, and it is a wonderful, fulfilling thing; every good priest strives to reflect—however inadequately—Christ. But, nonetheless, we cannot help but envy you bio dads. So cherish the gift that fatherhood is! … knowing that your love and care for your children is to reflect the love and care of God the Eternal Father for all.
Again, it’s always good to remember an important teaching from the book of Sirach 3 on Fathers’ (or Mothers’) Day:
1 Listen to me your father, O children; and act accordingly, that you may be kept in safety.
2 For the Lord honored the father above the children, and he confirmed the right of the mother over her sons.
3 Whoever honors his father atones for sins,
4 and whoever glorifies his mother is like one who lays up treasure.
5 Whoever honors his father will be gladdened by his own children, and when he prays he will be heard.
6 Whoever glorifies his father will have long life, and whoever obeys the Lord will refresh his mother;
7 he will serve his parents as his masters.
8 Honor your father by word and deed, that a blessing from him may come upon you.
9 For a father’s blessing strengthens the houses of the children…
10 Do not glorify yourself by dishonoring your father; your father’s dishonor is no glory to you.
11 For a man’s glory comes from honoring his father, and it is a disgrace for children not to respect their mother.
12 O son, help your father in his old age, and do not grieve him as long as he lives;
13 even if he is lacking in understanding, show forbearance; in all your strength do not despise him.
14 For kindness to a father will not be forgotten, and against your sins it will be credited to you;
15 in the day of your affliction it will be remembered in your favor; as frost in fair weather, your sins will melt away.
So treasure your parents while you have them, for time passes so very quickly, and as we who are a bit older know all too well, “…the silver cord is snapped…the golden bowl is broken…and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:6-7) We whose fathers and/or mothers are gone often reflect on what more we could have done to show our love to them, so do not let them pass with a lack of reconciliations where needed. Yet, we also know that those in Heaven forgive all things … hold no grudges; they only long for us to be with them once more in our mutual eternal embrace.
And so… How is a man a good father? We adapt slightly St. Paul’s verses from 1 Corinthians 13:
“[A father] is patient, [a father] is kind; [a father] is not jealous or boastful; [a father] is not arrogant or rude. [A father] does not insist on [his] own way; [a father] is not irritable or resentful; [he] does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. [A father] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. [A father’s] faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is [a father’s] love.”
And, you kids, too, remember that when in doubt: “A father’s tears and fears are unseen, his love is unexpressed, but his care and protection remains as a pillar of strength throughout our lives.” (Ama H. Vanniarachchy). And, dads: “Every father should remember one day his son will follow his example, not his advice.” (Charles Kettering)
Finally, if reading this online, I close with a few of my favorite linked bookmarked very short videos of fatherhood you might like…
https://x.com/i/status/1912062689733431807
https://x.com/i/status/1894327025625673892
https://x.com/i/status/1789268507189707191
Editor’s note: Rev. Glenn Jones is the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and former pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Alamos.