This Sunday's Gospel addresses the Disciples' fear while in a raging storm while the Savior is asleep. This Sunday is designated as father's day as well. In one hand I hold the Sunday Gospel in the other hand I hold Father's day. I start throwing them up in the air hoping they will melt together some how or another for Sunday's sermon. I know that it will be hard, and actually I may even be juggling them on Sunday Morning while delivering the sermon.
But in my life fear and father go together. My father believed you were to drive the fear of him into my life and he did a really good job of it. I am sure he isn't the only dad that did that. My dad has been dead over 10 years now, and I miss him. I am not so afraid of him anymore. Nope, after a lot of years of therapy I came to know him and love him. I hope I am not making my kids afraid of me in the same way.
Sometimes, I think Dads have gone to the other extreme, that kids have no respect for their dads. And sometimes Dads are absent dads or they are long gone. Boy all this leads to mixed up feelings toward God the father and Jesus. We wonder in life is Jesus is asleep instead of being awake and calming the storms of our lives.
Just thinking out loud as we head toward Father's day.
2 comments:
on the umc worship website at Mother's Day there was a suggestion not to worry about crafting a mother's day sermon, acknowledge the day in a prayer, a call to worship--btw, they have a great one for Father's Day.
that helped to free me from being tied to the day and focus more on the Gospel.
you make a great point about father's and fear. there's plenty of fathers that still work the fear angle. my dad was pretty darn scary too. you could craft a great sermon around the issue of fear and fathers and faith--the 3f's? i'm just getting goofy now. sorry about that.
if you do, would you post it or email it? i'd be very interested in what you have to say.
peace and blessings
Hmmm, I think things clicked into place for me when I realised one day that underneath all the shouting and need to make us feel small, my step-dad - a strong, physically imposing rugby player - was actually really a fearful man... I kind of pictured him as a frightened kid, trapped inside a big man's body, using his physique as a way of striking first before he was struck. And felt tremendous compassion for him. Killed that power dynamic dead there and then.
Thinking back to that moment, oh so many years ago now, I wonder if that was what prompted the fascination with restorative justice and models of forgiveness?
And yes, I wonder how we can all of us get past the 'familyolatry' of Mothering Sunday and Fathers Day... tricky services. No pressure guys, but I look to your experience!! :)
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