“Hello Father Bob!” “Hello Father Tom!”
If you are lucky enough and your pastor is a monsignor, don’t call him Father if he doesn’t correct you, everyone else around him will.
Why do we call our Priests, “father”? I have heard a number of explanations over the years. Later on I will attempt to explain the scripture in today’s Gospel, “Call no one on earth father” and why we call our priests by that term. For someone who interprets scripture literally, it looks so incredulous. Exodus 20 even says to honor your father and mother, but why call no man father? Saint Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 4:15″Even if you should have countless guides to Christ, yet you do not have many fathers, for I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel”.
Titles are so important. We even call our former elected officials by their former office title, such as governor, senator or even ex-presidents as “Mister President”. We need to give them respect for their duty to country and, as well as, our current office holders for the respect due their office. Look in recent weeks the love poured out to our police officers and firefighters and other first responders for their service in recent weeks.
In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus is criticizing the scribes and Pharisees who aren’t looking for service to God but looking for their own personal glory.
Jesus says, “Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen.”
When Jesus gave this admonition, the world did not have priests. The apostles were in seminary(so to speak) and they had not received the Holy Spirit which did not come about until Pentecost Sunday. Jesus says, “You have but one Father in Heaven.” “you have but one master, the Christ”
That is the key, we only have one master. Yes, we all have our earthly fathers who may or not be perfect. Nonetheless, we must give all fathers respect. We call our priests, “father” and they will be the first to admit they are not perfect either, but they are our faith leaders.
“The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
I am not sure when we started calling our priest with the title of father. It seems it was an evolution which started around the year 400 AD by calling bishops papa and later papa became the term we us for Pope. Priest are the fathers of our church communities and this position led to the term “father”. The title is not as important as the respect we give them. They are the shepards of their flocks and should be given the respect of their office. Priests and laity alike could at any time be guilty of exalting ourselves. We are all human. However, I don’t know too many priest are not true selfless servants of God. Read a great article on this issue by Father William Saunders written in 1995 that describes the evolution better than me. You will have to Google it.
So when you see Father Bob or Father Tom, don’t be afraid to call them father. If you are lucky enough to be a father yourself, enjoy the title and train your children well. You are your children’s servant and you are worthy of the respect they give you (Exodus 20). You deserve that title. Most importantly, give your Father in heaven and one master the Christ the most important glory because God the Father gave His only Son, a servant, to give His life for the reparations of our sins. Christ was the perfect servant and perfect father by His death on the Cross.
I wish I had written this reflection for “Father’s Day”
God Bless
Bob Burford
Readings – Ezekiel 43:1-7AB; Psalm 85: 9AB-10,11-12,13-14; Matthew 23: 1-12
