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Show us the Father

Fifth Sunday After Pentecost ~ Year C ~ June 19, 2016
Father Fathers Day
Introduction
Today is Fathers Day where we set aside time to honor our fathers and
consider the importance of father. The notion and role of father is so
important, yet today the father is absent in the lives of so many children. I
will never forget watching a YouTube video of a group of nuns teaching
impoverished children in New Jersey the Lords Prayer. These children could
not grasp the idea of God as Father as they knew no father. The good sisters
taught them to pray, Our grandmother who art in heaven.
Grandmother was the primary head of household they knew.
The other day Julie and I chatted with a young woman at Smash
Burger, who said, I would not be alive were it not for my Father in heaven.
I was reminded of the words of Saint John, See what love the Father has
given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what
we are. (I John 3:1a, NRSV). This great truth is what we each must focus
on today and never forget ~ we are children of the Father in heaven.
So where does this leave us earthly fathers? It is our duty to first be
aware of the power we knowingly or unknowingly carry as fathers; secondly,
our actions can even shape our childrens view of their heavenly father for
the good or the bad.

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Universally the very symbol of father can be seen in many ways,

some positively and some negatively. Positively it can be connected with
courage, life giving, and wisdom or negatively as domination, authoritarian,
possessive, and punitive. Father is an important part of who we are whether
one is present or not ~ shaping how we see ourselves and see God.
Unfortunately, no one tells us this as we begin our journey or fatherhood.
Perhaps today is a good day to revisit our what our Heavenly Father is like.

Show us the Father

Philip said to him, Lord, show us the Father, and we will be
satisfied.
(John 14: 8, NRSV)

In the movie Joshua (2002), we see some people with different views
of what God is like and Joshua (Jesus) returns to help clarify his love for all.
One priest talked about how one cannot hide their sins from God and how he
will punish them. His picture was an angry vengeful God, mush different
from what we heard from John.
The community Joshua came to was a nice community much like ours
but divided with people living and interacting in their small groups. But he
showed them how to come together, not though preaching but by living out

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this example of acceptance, kindness, and inclusion. This part of the movie
echoes Saint Pauls words to the Galatians:
You are all Gods children through faith in Christ Jesus. There
is neither Jew of Greek; there is neither slave nor free; nor Is there
male or female, for you are al one in Christ.
The actions of Joshua answer Phillips request to see the father.
Joshua or Jesus answer is, If you have seen me you have seen the
father. This is crucial as the old priest who had this very negative picture
of God and saw Joshua did not see how the two connected. You know what
is even stranger, we too have seen Jesus and still distort the face of our
Heavenly Father. Jesus is the best picture we have of the Father; to
know what the Father is like is to look at and listen to Jesus!
Jesus tells us the Father is like the woman who tears up her house to
find a lost coin and when she finds it she tells everyone and rejoices! The
Fathers behavior is prodigal, meaning foolish, wasteful, and reckless in his
willingness to forgive. Yes, the prodigal is not the son but God represented
by the father. He is also a good shepherd who carelessly leaves 99 sheep to
find one that is lost, because the flock is not whole unless it is made whole
once again.

Jesus models this love time and time again approaching

those that seem lost, those that are thrown away, women,
Samaritans, and those who seem hopeless. This is not our search
for God but Gods search for us!

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Abba Father
Jesus models the relationship we are to have with the Father. First and
most important he addresses God not as the formal Father but as Abba
(Aramaic) ~ Papa or Daddy! This is revolutionary as the Holy One would
never be addressed in such informal terms. Yet he tells us to pray, Our
Abba who is in heaven that we may have the intimacy of a child and a
loving parent.

This Abba is interested in being part of our lives. Jesus leans on him during
the biggest moments of his life and addresses his father, for example:
1. Before raising Lazarus from the dead, "Father, I thank you that you
have heard me. (John 11:41)
2. During his agony in the garden, "My Father, if it is possible, may
this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." (Mt
26:39)
3. Jesus High Priestly Prayer before his arrest, Father, the hour has
come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, (John
17:1)

Where is Your God?

We live in a time of division and anger that is really driven by fear. We
often look around and ask God, Where are you? Things fall apart, we

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feel alone. Jesus frequently tells us to not be afraid. The prophet Isaiah
writes,
Do not fear, for I am with you,
do not be afraid, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.
~ Isaiah 41:10, NRSV
Todays story from 1 Kings is perhaps one of my favorites. Things have
gone badly for Elijah and like us he is feeling overwhelmed, feeling as if he
just wants to give up. The Lords prophets have been murdered and he is
next on the list. But Yahweh tells him to stand at the mouth of a cave and
wait for him. At first there is a strong wind but God is not present in the
wind. Next is an earthquake, but God is not there; then there is a fire, but
God is not to be found there. But then came a small wind ~ thin and quiet.
Elijah covered his face as God was there.
We are never alone for Abba is with us always. Maybe it is our
expectations and perceptions that get in the way ~ just like Elijah.

He is

found in the small moments of our lives and silence, always guiding,
granting us wisdom, and protecting us. We just are not always able
to notice.
Conclusion

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Maybe as fathers we need to take our cue from our Abba in Heaven
maybe we could guide with a more loving hand, be present in silence instead
of butting in and bossing around. Maybe we could love our children as the
people God made them not the people we think they should be. God does
expect a great deal, but it seems of those given so much to he expects so
much more. Tough duty on this Fathers Day and a duty in which I have
faltered badly. But this God is a God of chances, forgiveness, and
transformation.
Lord, Heavenly Abba, make me (and other dads) into your image.
Guide me (us) to be the Abba(s) you would have me (us) to be, through your
grace and by your love we pray. Amen.