From Father Gabriel’s Desk

To Fathers and Grandfathers

May the grace and peace that come from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

As we celebrate the gift of fatherhood this weekend with respect and gratitude, I would like to address each of you. The first truth we learn in Sacred Scripture is that God reveals Himself as Father. In the very first chapter of Genesis, God reveals Himself through the act of creation, bringing all things into existence out of love for the human race. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches:

“God creates everything for man, but man in turn was created to serve and love God and to offer all creation back to Him.” (CCC 358)

In a special way, God’s love is expressed through the gift of fatherhood bestowed upon you. God the Father shares this gift with you so that, through your witness and example, your children may come to know and experience His love, mercy, forgiveness, guidance and correction, when needed.

In the prayer of the Our Father, our Lord Jesus Christ reveals to us the eternal truth about our origin: we have a heavenly Father who loves us deeply. Yet His love goes even further. He is not content merely to guide us from Heaven. Out of His great love, He desires to dwell within us. Our Father wishes to make His home in the depths of our souls, becoming the loving presence at the center of our lives. He desires that we recognize Him in our hearts, love Him in all that we do, and honor Him through our words, actions and daily lives. Let us always acknowledge Him as our God and Father, the Creator and source of our lives.

Dear Fathers and Grandfathers, what a great gift God the Father has given to the world through each one of you. I encourage you to reflect upon this gift, treasure it, and recognize yourselves as the spiritual leaders of your families. Instill in your children and grandchildren a love for God and never grow weary of asking Him to help you fulfill your vocation as fathers and spiritual leaders.

Develop a strong relationship with God. Pray for the wisdom and strength needed to lead your families. Do not be afraid to guide your children toward Him and honor Him in all that you do. Psalm 128 offers a beautiful reminder of the blessings that flow from faithful fatherhood and family life:

“Happy is the man who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways. You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Thus, shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord. The Lord bless you from Zion. May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. May you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!”

In the Old Testament, when confronted with the choice of serving the Lord or following false gods, Joshua made a bold declaration. Because of his faithfulness, God greatly blessed him as the spiritual leader of Israel:

“As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

(Joshua 24:15)

I encourage each of you to make the same commitment and to persevere in it every day, knowing that it will bring God’s blessings upon you and your families. Never underestimate the power of your prayers and sacrifices. Throughout the Old Testament, we see countless examples of how prayer, repentance, and faithfulness changed the course of events and brought God’s favor upon individuals, families and the entire nation. Through your spiritual leadership, prayers, and faithfulness to God, you can obtain the same for your families and even for the whole world.

As we honor and celebrate the gift of fatherhood this weekend, let us give thanks to God for each one of you and ask His continued blessings upon you and your families.

Finally, I would like to share this simple prayer, acknowledging our Heavenly Father as the author of life taken from the writings of the Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta:

“We love You, our Father who art in Heaven. We love You, our Father who dwells in our hearts.”

And a prayer that comes from the Old Testament with which you can bless your family:

“May the Lord bless you and keep you;
May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.”

(Numbers 6:24-26)

Imploring God’s blessings upon you,

+Fr. Gabriel Barrera.