Call No Man Father

Catholic Priest“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

About the Author

My name is Bob Burford and am married to my lovely bride, Anna. I am a cradle Catholic and worship at Church of Saint Mary's in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I am active in the Knights of Columbus and praying where the Lord wants both of us to serve in our new faith home. College degrees in Economics and Accounting. My wife and I have eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren with a sixth to arrive this Fall. Love Pope Frances and proclaiming the Word of the Lord in my life! Please pray for all the Ukrainian people. Pray for their salvation and physical and emotional health.

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3 Comments

  1. Jesus says, call no one father, but your Father in heaven. He is our Creator; He is responsible for our being. Without Him, we are not even a thought. So from this perspective, we really only have one Father and it is His Will that matters.

    Associating the name of Father is certainly not the same as calling our eternal God Father. They are not synonomous. Others are limited because of their humanness. Our Devine Father is not. He knows us better than we know ourselves which is why He can be are only judge.

    Earthly fathers are charged with the responsibility of participating in our Heavenly Father’s plan of creation. They are providers for and protectors of the family. They are our first instructors in life and should be honored with our mothers as the fourth Commandment requires.

    Priestly fathers instruct us in the faith and care for our spiritual well being. Honoring them is also the right thing to do.

  2. You might need to ask them, because we are using the correct readings for today. There are links to the two sites for the daily readings in our menu bar at the top of the page.

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