A Father's Heart - A Reflection by Br. Ted

“We had a very good upbringing,” I said to my sister as we were poring through the many photo albums selecting pictures for my father’s funeral.

Perhaps I wouldn’t have admitted that as a teenager, but now I can look back and see the immense dedication and love my father had for our family. There are a couple things I want to reflect on as I remember my father on this upcoming Father’s Day.

My father worked a lot of overtime shifts so that our family could prosper. He served as a reservist into my college years and was finally able to enjoy retirement. He was thrifty, or more accurately: cheap. Yet, as my father aged, his gruff and irritable personality became more gentle, patient and loving.

Amazingly, I would often comment to my fellow Brothers that he began to reveal more and more the love of God the Father to me. 

“When are you coming home?” he would say. While my parents had become resigned to the infrequency of my home visits, as Dad aged he couldn’t contain it anymore: “When are you coming home?” He greatly looked forward to being with me!

To me this is a clear image of God the Father: He wants us home with Him. Not just in heaven, but that we are home with Him in this life. That we dwell in His presence every moment of every day.

The Father delights that we abide in Him as we abide in His Son Jesus who came to dwell with us and reveal the Father. From His delight, we can live in peace and joy knowing that we have such a Father!

I quote my father all of the time: he was a man of many sayings. Jesus had many sayings. As I read the Gospel accounts, I often wonder how many of Jesus’ sayings came from His earthly father, St. Joseph?

When I pray with the Gospels, I can picture young Jesus and Joseph working together. “Jesus, look at the birds in this field. They don’t worry about anything! God provides for them. He provides all the more for us who believe.” Or after a hard day of work at the many civic projects in the Galilee region at that time: “Give to Caesar what is due Caesar, but remember my son, always give to God what is due God.”

On this Father’s Day, I am grateful to God the Father who sent His Only Son to us to bring us back to Him by the working of the Holy Spirit in us, the Spirit in us, that cries out “Abba Father.” (Rom 8:15) I am also grateful that he gave me an earthly father, who though imperfect, has helped me hear and believe the words of God the Father, “You are my beloved son.” (cf. Mk 1:11)

-Br. Ted Psemeneki, June 2024