Happy Father's Day

May the rich blessings of God touch many of our fathers!

  The demands and expectations of fatherhood have far outstretched the imagination of our own fathers/grandfathers today. Fathers are expected to know and to do much more than those of yesteryear. Pamper-changing is not solely the task of mothers only. I look at my own brothers and see the differences in them.    
  Nonetheless, we still want our fathers to be there for us, caring, compassionate and loving. The isolated and distant breadwinner is an anomaly of the past. Such an image is not expected today! The change is good, difficult and demanding but the rewards are manifold. A genuine father is loving; but, not overly possessive; protective but, not afraid to see his child strive on his/her own; anxious to have his child succeed; but, willing to accept mistakes and even failures in the process. A real father is there when needed. He is kind, considerate, firm and yet, never rigid. The greatest joy of such a man is that his child never has to ask for love; never has to seek a definition of what father means.
   My favourite image of God as father comes from the Hebrew Old Testament prophet Hosea. God stoops to a child, tousles his hair and hugs him. I'm reminded that we do not have to strain ourselves to get to God. Indeed, the Almighty One comes to us; stoops, "tousles our hair" and loves us. The words at a child's baptism also resonate: "May he bless the father of this child. He and his wife will be the first teachers of their child in the ways of faith. May they be the best teachers, bearing witness to the faith they profess by what they say/do..."
   These are great ideals. We all have our memories of our fathers: some good; some not too good! Undoubtedly, a dim reflection is better than a poor imitation! Like Joseph who mentored Jesus and by all means, seemed to be the ideal father - may we follow in his footsteps with care, with conviction, with compassion, relying on the strength of character from a God whom we so absolutely trust!
   "Don't be afraid! We are worth more than many sparrows!"