Dear Friends,
Today’s readings take us back to the truth we sometimes overlook, that when we are with Christ, there is nothing to fear. Don’t we sing “The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want”? Amidst the waves of our daily life, Christ comes to reassure us that if we trust in Him and rely on Him, we will always remain safe and protected. Because there is no power that can be over Him.
The Lord’s address to Jobin the first reading is a reminder of that truth: the Lord knows everything and He has power over everything because He is the creator of the world. No power can be above Him. Very often we rely on ourselves and we seem to pretend to have mastery on what befalls us. Yet, today’s passages from the book of Job and the Gospel reveal to us that we are but fragile and powerless beings whose life depends only upon God.
Today we celebrate Father’s Day. I would like to thank all human and spiritual fathers, and all who sustain a father’s figure for those under their responsibility. Thank you for providing for your families and all under your care and protection. In this Year of Saint Joseph, we are given in Saint Joseph an example of humble, courageous, and obedient fatherhood. In fulfilling his ministry and responsibility as the earthly father of the Son of God and husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph put in the front line his proximity with God. That presence of God in his life and the proximity with Him enabled him to raise the Son of God in love of God and neighbors, growing in body and spirit as St. Luke tells us.
The waves of today’s life can leader fathers and all who believe in Christ to wonder whether the Son of God cares that we are perishing. There are moments in our life when we feel the torrent of disappointing, worrisome, and fearful situations challenge us. Yet, the assurance of His presence should calm us the very same way the violent squall and the wind died and got calm at His command. If He commanded the waves and wind to calm down then, He will and is still commanding them today to calm down. He asks us to just have faith in Him and everything will work for good. We need just to turn to Him with faith and trust and we will find solace with Him.
As we offer our prayers for all fathers, living and deceased, let us continue to pray for one another and for our parish family.
Fr. Emery