On This Here Father's Day, Let us Praise Those Fathers....

Let us praise those fathers who have striven to balance the demands of work, marriage, and children with an honest awareness of both joy and sacrifice.

Let us praise those fathers who, lacking a good model for a father, have worked to become a worthy and virtuous father.

Let us praise those fathers who, by their own account, were not always there for their children, but who continue to offer those children, now grown, their love and support.

Let us praise those fathers who, despite marital discord, have remained in their children's lives.

Let us praise those fathers whose children are adopted, and whose love and support has nurtured a thriving life.

Let us praise those fathers who have lost a child to death, and continue to hold the child in their heart.

Let us praise those men who have no children, but cherish the next generation as if they were their own.

Let us praise those men who have "fathered" us in their role as mentors and guides.

Let us praise those men who are about to become fathers; may they openly delight in their children.

And let us praise those fathers who have died, but live on in our memory and whose love continues to nurture us.

- Prayer of Kirk Loadman adapted by Debra Mooney, PhD     

9 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.

10 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. 

11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 

13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

This last weekend I was able to witness our former friend and musician Yolanda Williams become officially ordained as a Pastor! For those who do not know, Yolanda was our piano player and amazing music leader for many years. She lifted our spirits with her music, ministry, and love for the church. 

Now, Dr. Yolanda Williams has answered the call to be a Methodist Minister. After spending 5 years in school, and being sponsored by a Church, she can officially practice and teach the word of God in an ordained fashion. 

It is truly amazing to see what happens when someone answers the call of Jesus. It was a blessing to witness Yolanda respond to that voice speaking to her; I saw someone’s spirit being moved and changed right before my eyes. To witness the call being answered is a beautiful thing. As disciples, we know this call well, and we have responded to the spirit of Christ that calls us; we know the feeling of what it means to listen. However, for others, that call is not nearly as clear. 

It is the season of Pentecost, and in the book of Matthew we read about the very same calling that we received as disciples of Christ. In chapter nine, Jesus is walking along a path and sees a tax collector booth. Now, we are no strangers to tax collectors or IRS agents, and during this time period these types of booths were common place. See, the “IRS” at the time was clever. Tax collectors would set up places on street corners so they could pay close attention to trade goods being collected and sold. So, for example, if you were fishing and caught yourself a hefty catch, they would know exactly what to tax you. Matthew, in particular, was really good at his job, and Jesus saw this. 

Jesus approaches Matthew, and after seeing his booth, he looks at him and says, “drop everything and follow me”. Now, this call from Jesus did not come in the form of a “sign”. This call from Jesus did not come on the wind or in a whisper. This call was clear as day; Matthew heard it, got up, and followed Jesus. 

In reading this text, it is clear that Jesus called Matthew—but for what reason? Up until this point, Jesus had been healing the injured, feeding the hungry, and preaching to those who needed to hear good news. Why would Jesus call a man who was well-off and working for the government? 

What we learn is that Jesus doesn’t call only people who are docile. Jesus does not only see those in need and call them exclusively. Jesus calls busy people. Jesus calls people with calendars. Jesus calls people who have things to do. Jesus is looking for hustlers. 

Matthew hears the call and doesn’t even think it over. There is nothing in the book of Matthew about an exchange of what might be involved in following Christ or even a term of agreement of becoming a disciple. Jesus came to Matthew and presented two options: a yes, or a no. 

When Jesus calls His disciples, you are either in or you are out. If you remember the parable of the rich young ruler who comes to Jesus to be saved, in the same vein, Jesus tells him: “sell all your things and follow me”. When faced with this ultimatum, the ruler could not do it. He had too much he didn’t want to lose; he had too much that he could not live without. So, Jesus left—no conditions, no bargaining. That was it. And this is what Jesus is providing us with: a choice.

With the all powerful love of God comes a choice. Jesus has come to call sinners, bad people, trouble makers, and all those too busy to stop and open their eyes. Jesus gives us mercy in our imperfections, and love in the darkest of times. Jesus does not desire sacrifice, nor any material object. Jesus only requires us completely; no stipulations. 

If today, you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts. If today you hear his voice, don’t quiver or equivocate. Say yes, or say no. If today you hear his voice, understand that you don’t need to be anything other than who you are when God calls you—even if you are feeling broken. If today you hear His voice, understand that the call to discipleship is also the call to mercy in your own life and the life of the world around you. If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts; listen and follow. 

Amen. 

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12)

Honor your father and mother. The fifth commandment is one that is instilled in us throughout a Christian upbringing, as part of church and Sunday school classes; it is usually deeply embedded into our society regardless of our faith background. We even have official days to celebrate parents, that sit on everyone’s calendar, when we remember and honor those parents or parental figures in our lives. 

For some, these special days of remembering are not easy. Maybe, growing up our parental figures were absent, or abandoned us. Maybe, they were abusive, or dysfunctional, codependent. Maybe, they were preoccupied with their own lives and neglectful. Maybe, they were so complex that we are still trying to unravel them in therapy sessions. Maybe, if we were fortunate, they were supportive and loving, but they are now gone from this world and we are trying to figure out how to cope, how to celebrate and honor our parents that are no longer here. 

Whatever the situation, God still commands us to honor them. It was written, by God’s hand, in stone.

Maybe the honoring we will do is with gifts and meals of shrimp kabobs and brownies. Maybe it’s a special church service or luncheon. Maybe it’s taking them out for a fancy dinner, or breakfast in bed. Maybe it’s a card, a phone call, a Facebook post, or a text. Maybe it’s just sitting and talking to their picture, their gravesite, their urn, or heaven. 

Or maybe, it is trying to forget your anger at your parents, just for one day. Maybe it is finally deciding to forgive them, in your heart, or out loud, or in a letter. Maybe it is simply just to acknowledge that God blessed your parents to bring you into this world, and for that you are grateful. Maybe it is only that you feel your gratefulness to God, but need to let thoughts of your earthly parents go. Where ever you are on the continuum of “honoring,” it is okay. Or maybe still, it is all so very hard to process, then we can choose to honor God, our Heavenly Father, for all the grace, love, and forgiveness we are given every single day. 

So this weekend, as we celebrate fathers all around the world, remember to be gentle on yourself as to wherever you are in your father-honoring journey. Be honest with yourself and ask God to help you to do what is needed for you to heal, to find joy, or to live in good memories. And don’t forget to thank God for the ultimate parental caregiving, the role model we were given in Jesus, and the daily bread and molding we are provided for our sustenance and continued growth, our transformation. Give thanks for the Holy Spirit and the intercessions prayed on our behalf, even when we don’t have words to pray. Find a way to celebrate and honor all our dads, earthy and heavenly, not just because God commanded, or that He carved it into stone, or that we memorized the words, or even that it may seem expected by everyone around us—but because God promises it is good for our souls, and for our lives, too.

Amen. 

Gethsemane Lutheran Church

4656 Colfax Avenue North

Minneapolis, MN 55412

612-521-3575