FATHER'S DAY

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY. 

Good morning/evening everyone, I am so happy to welcome you all for today's Holy Mass. Let's thank God the Father Almighty for bringing us all here to this beautiful church of St. Joseph's. Let us thank the Father to send His only Son our lord Jesus Christ to be with us forever. Let's thank our Father for showering upon us the gifts of the Holy Spirit every day. 

Happy Father's Day to all our wonderful fathers who by their very life inspire and influence their children and family. 

One day two sons decided to do something wonderful for their dad on a Father's Day, so they spent a good amount of money and bought a Catholic horse. The horse was so religious and when it heard "Amen", it stood still and when it heard, "Praise the Lord', it ran like anything else, I mean so fast like the wind. When the dad saw the horse, he was so happy and thanked them and then right away jumped on the horse. The horse began to run so fast and the dad completely forgot what to say. The horse was running so fast and went on a hill. That is always happen with men. The man got so afraid and thank God, he remembered the word and he screamed saying, "Amen", the horse stopped on the edge of the cliff and he was so happy and thanked god saying, "Praise the Lord". 

Once a son innocently looked at his dad and said, "Are you the boss of the house?" The dad was all proud and said, "Yes, son, of course, I am the boss of the house and then the boy said, "Is it because Mom put you in charge, right?" 

Once a man said, "The best thing that my dad taught me is...."Don't tell your mom".  

The Father God is our Creator and when He breathed the breath of life into the nostrils of people, life began. Adam and Eve began their spiritual journey on earth. But as they went away from God, their life source was taken away from them. They faced pain and suffering and eventually death. But God who loves us so much sent His Son Christ our Lord who breathed on the disciples saying, "Receive the Holy Spirit". And thus, life was restored, and that life is continuing in people.  

Today God calls men in a special way to become fathers to praise and glorify and continue His wonderful creation activity in cooperation with women and other creatures. Continuing His creation activity demands so much responsibility, spiritual responsibility. Fathers have to sacrifice and dedicate more than hundred percent of everything to protect their family and raise their children holy. 

Where can they draw energy to do so? Can they do it by their strength alone? No, no father can do it alone. They need strength from above. They need God. They need God the Father to make them good fathers on earth. 

Once a dad who was so buy getting ready to go to work, noticed that one of his children was using his electric shaver to shave his head. The dad got so mad at him and said, "what are you doing? Why are you keep bothering me and you need a good spanking." The son said, " dad, don't get mad at me. God and see what Charlie did. Then Charlie his second son came in completely shaved head. The dad got so upset and said, "Why are you doing all these things to me and what are you trying to prove me?' They innocently looked at their dad and said, "Dad, we want to be like you". 

That is a desire of every child trying to be like his dad. In the gospels, Jesus often says, "The Father and I are one. To Philip who said to Christ, "Show us the Father and we will be satisfied", Philip, have you not understood all the things that I talked to you and now you are asking to show the Father. If you see, you have seen the Father. The Father and I are one. No one can go to the Father except through me".  We say like the Father, so is the Son. 

Being Father is a very big responsibility. They have to set the example first and then it's easy for the children to do. It's not just telling the children, "Don't do this and don't do that" and then going behind their back and doing everything. The children imitate their father. 

Once a group of children went to see an ocean first time and when they came back to school the next day, they were very excited to share their experience saying, "The ocean is so huge, and no one can cross the ocean swimming". And one of the children who did not go to see the ocean with them, looked at them and said, "What about my dad? He can do anything.  

Fathers are role models and guide and they build and shape their children's future. When a dad is spiritual and practice his faith, his children will always be spiritual and practice their faith. 

One day, a dad saw his son trying to move a heavy rock. He said to his son, "Son, are you using all your energy to move the rock?" The son who was so exhausted said, "Yes, dad of course". Then the dad looked at him and said, "No, son, you are not. You did not ask my help yet".  

Fathers make a big difference in their children's lives. As we celebrate 'Father's Day, let us pray for fathers who teach their children to grow stronger in faith, hope and love.  

Today the world needs spiritual fathers, spiritual leaders who not only pray daily and also help their family to do so. We need good morally upright fathers who can help their children to grow faithfully and we need catholic fathers who pray the rosary, come to Mass and celebrate life and help others to do the same. So, let us ask St. Joseph, to pray for all our fathers today. Amen.