WEEK 1
My dear friends,
It is an audacious thing to call God, our Father. Yet as Catholic Christians this has been our custom, ever since those first followers asked Jesus how to pray and he taught them. This reality is shown well in the Chosen Series. I commend the Chosen to your attention.
In the time of Jesus, God was far away, greatly respected, and revered, the One who called Himself “I am Who am” with Moses at the burning bush. The word “El” in Hebrew refers to the Lord - like in many of the names we know: Michael, Gabriel, Rafael, Joel, Elizabeth - in each case describing some facet or reality of the existence of God. My name means ‘The Lord is God!” a prophetic utterance for one of the minor prophets who speaks into a challenging time. Maybe your name has a name for God hidden inside!
God’s name was generally mysterious. And to speak God’s name or come close to thinking you might understand (comprehend) who God is - that would have been considered imprudent or naive (and still should be). We might have a tendency today to presume too much. The Catechism teaches:
“God transcends all creatures. We must therefore continually purify our language of everything in it that is limited, image-bound or imperfect, if we are not to confuse our image of God- "the inexpressible, the incomprehensible, the invisible, the ungraspable"- with our human representations. Our human words always fall short of the mystery of God.” (CCC 42)
Good to remember, and yet Jesus, our teacher and brother, passed on to his followers, the invitation and instruction to address God as Father. That is a bold thing! In one place, Jesus speaks of God with such familiarity that the Jews accuse Him of blasphemy, an offense punishable by stoning (Jn 10:29-39). This is not the only occasion. I bring it to our attention only that we may be sure to speak of God as Father with great reverence and gratitude for this gift.
Many of us grew up with wonderful fathers as role models. For many, our fathers are our heroes. For others, however, the father figures in our lives were not what we had hoped them to be, not what we deserved. And so, calling God “Father” may bring up some layers of feelings, notions of discipline or dominance or even abuse. I hope calling God Father can be a healing balm to that wound, a recognition of what should have been and what could be even now. Jesus sketches the real father who is constantly on the lookout for his lost son, and when he approaches, receives a kiss, an embrace, and restoration into the family (Lk 15:20). That is the Father who awaits us.
Pope Francis composed a reflection on this prayer in the book Our Father: Reflections on the Lord’s Prayer. There he affirms that it is a bold thing - not only to call God Father, but even to pray this prayer at all. To speak these words with faith requires a certain audacity. He says, “to truly believe that God is the Father who accompanies us, forgives us, gives us bread, is attentive to all that we ask, clothes us even better than the flowers of the field. To believe is a big risk.” He invites us to dare and to dare one another to step out in faith and speak the words with boldness and faith.
That is enough to share for now. I encourage you to explore one of the many aids and reflections on this majestic and simple prayer. I pray this time of reflection draws all deeper into the Father’s bosom and helps us to be of deeper faith and greater humility and courage in our prayer lives. This week, pray one Our Father before each meal - slowly - as a way to enter this time journeying together.
May our Father bless you!
(fr.) Joel Wilson
