Pastor's Corner

“Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” - Exodus 20:12

A few weeks ago, we celebrated motherhood. Today we celebrate fathers. Fathers’ Day, or a celebration of fatherhood, began in Europe in the Middle Ages. It was (and is) observed on March 19, the feast day of St. Joseph. It was not celebrated in the United States, outside the Catholic Church, until the 20th century. First celebrated as a civic celebration, Father’s Day began to be celebrated nationwide early in the 20th century as a complement to Mother’s Day. The first observance was held on July 5, 1908 in Fairmont, West Virginia, in Williams Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church South.

In the same way the ancient Hebrews treated mothers (the Hebrew, am), so fathers likewise were considered. An ab (pronounced “ahv”) was any male who played an important role in the life of a young person. However, in those times, a patriarchal society existed. As such, it was expected that the females would play a more important role. Young males generally were apprenticed at an early age. Jesus was apprenticed to his father, Joseph, and learned the skills of carpentry. Young females were expected to learn the role of being in the home, and of being subservient to the male, whether father or some other significant male.

Today, we celebrate fathers who have played such an important role in modeling a Christ-like life. My father did that. Early on, I learned the importance of a relationship with Christ. I learned how to be respectful of all people. I learned to laugh, and I learned to cry. The day my dad thought his father-in-law, my grandfather, had died was a day I’ll not forget. The real emotion and tears that came to him showed me that it was okay to feel the emotions we all have.

My dad taught me to play baseball. He taught me the value of having friends, and the value of sharing. He taught me that, because they were younger, I needed to watch out for my sister and my brother. In short, he instilled many of life’s most valuable lessons. While, of course, there were times I was mad at him, we still had a wonderful relationship. I know that there are those who didn’t enjoy such a relationship, maybe some of you reading this. I recall the Harry Chapin song, “Cat’s in the Cradle.” In it, the young boy says he’s going to be like his often absent, distant father. When I hear the song, I’m saddened for those who didn’t have the relationship I had, and thankful for the one I did have with my father. I miss him.

Whether or not we had a good father, each of us can learn what it means to be a father to young people the way God the Father is to each of us. God’s love, as seen in Jesus, is not a love we can ever live out fully. But it does give us a model for how we can be. And, it’s never too late to begin. Even if we’re in the latter stages of life, that doesn’t preclude us from being a “father” to some young person. That’s how we can be Christ to others. It might be the most important thing we ever do. See you on the journey!

Grace and peace,

Mike

June 18, 2017