God's Fatherly Concern

Title: God's Fatherly Concern

Date: October 8, 1987 - Thursday of the Twenty-Seventh Week (I)

Readings: Malachi 3:13-20 / Psalm 1:1-2,3,4,6 / Luke 11:5-13

Our Gospel today is one which flows easily from the theme of yesterday's when we recalled Christ's teaching us to pray "Our Father, ...." Today also, he reminds us of this natural relationship which is self-reflective of the Heavenly Father's love. The Gospel begins by speaking of the Christian's obligation to be charitable, even when it is inconvenient and difficult to do so. However, it then switches gears somewhat and refers to the kindness of earthly fathers to their children. This passage ends with the sentence, "If you, with all your sins, know how to give your children good things, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him." Throughout the long history of the Church, it may be sometimes we take the analogy too far, or maybe really not far enough, in imaging God above as a stern, vengeful, and punishing Father. It is true that while he is a just Father, he is also merciful. I mentioned earlier on that there is something self-reflective about this most special Fatherhood. In his love we see something of who we are to be as fathers and mothers to one another. Conversely, in our love as Christians we need to find something of God's fatherly concern for us. It is interesting to note that Christ uses the most familiar of relationships to reveal something of the God we follow. In the order of grace, Christ makes us adopted sons to the Father and shows us that he cares about us. In Christ's relationship to us, we are reminded of the analogy of Christ as the groom and the Church as his bride. Between the pages of these two relationships, the whole story of salvation is written.