And so I ask myself. Is this the kind of relationship that I have with God? Is this the kind of relationship that we have with God. Sometimes I meet with people who tell me straight away. “Bishop I have to tell you that I do not believe in God”. I always ask them in return, “But what kind of God you do not believe in because most probably it is the kind of God that I do not believe in either”. There are so many strange ideas about God that have influenced in a negative manner the lives of so many. For some, God has always been a judge ready to pronounce condemnation and censure. For others God is more like a policeman who is always ready to tick you off when we become involved in something that is not right. While for others, God is more like an old man with a long beard living in some remote place and who is a spoilsport because you can never have a natural healthy relationship.
Jesus wanted to tell us that our God is so different from these ideas. He is a God who is interested in us and who gave us everything that He has, His son Jesus, so that we understand how powerful we are when we get close to Him. He is a God who is passionately in love with us and all He asks is to love Him back, to take Him seriously and to live according to His values and teachings. It is only in this manner that we become a source of blessings to those whom we meet.
It is also very true that the image that I have of God is very closely related to the image and to the experience that I have had with my earthly father. How can I speak that God loves us as a Father does, if my natural father is never at home, or he is always drunk. How can I teach the children in our schools that God loves them as a Father does, if their natural father is violent, cheats on their mother, or is more interested in pursuing his interests with the price of abandoning the family. As men, we have an amazing call on us, because we portray the image of our God. It is a great call which is also accompanied by certain responsibilities.
I was so thrilled to read in the weekend Australian that Mr Bracks is described boldly as a “Family Man”. We were all surprised at his decision to resign as the premier of our State. He was at the height of his career and for eight years he was the leading politician of the State of Victoria. He was also successful in three elections and in all probability he would have remained as Premier at the next election. He has done quite well for a person who has been described as the “accidental Premier”. There might be various reasons for his quitting politics. However he was upfront to say that what happened to his son, Nick made him reflect on his position as a father. During the press conference, he cited family reasons as a factor in his decision. He admitted that he was devastated by the accident and considered himself a failure as a father. This accident, he seems to intimate, made him seriously reflect on what is more important in life. This whole episode is captured by the comment of his wife Terri, “It is good to have him back”. Family life needs a father.
This is further strengthened by what I read recently in a book entitled “Fatherless America”. The author reports that in the United States fifty per cent of the children when they go home do not find their natural father waiting for them. One can only imagine the emotional and deep hurts that such an amazing number of children are going to grow up with. I grew up without a father because my father died at the age of 32. I know what it means to grow without a father who can guide and care for you like a good shepherd does. This is the reason why as a Catholic Church we firmly believe that marriage is between a man and a woman and for a life time.
Moreover “Our Father” are the first two words of the prayer that Jesus gave to us. Let us take the opportunity as fathers to pray with our children. This may seem hard to do. We do not seem to know what to say in prayer with our children. Let us keep it simple. When the children come to visit you, or come for lunch or dinner, as they come in welcome them and as you shake their hand or hug them say to them “Gee it is good to see you. May God be with you”. In the same manner before they leave and they say to you “Thanks mum, thanks dad see you later”, you tell them. “Hang on a minute, came over here and hug them and shake their hands saying, remember that you are special, God is with you and I care for you too”. We do not need to graduate from a university to pray with our children and with one another. We simple remember that we are the living image of our God who relates with us as a good daddy does.
God Bless.
