Called to be Father

We need better dads. The biological kind and the spiritual kind.

Every man is called to be a husband and father in some sense of the word. The married man is called to be spouse to his wife and father to their offspring. The celibate man, either through the priesthood or religious life, is called to be spouse to his bride - the Church - and father (hence a Catholic priest being know as "Fr. So-and-so") to his spiritual children throughout the world. It transcends even these distinctions though, as being a father has a specific nature that should carry out throughout our existence. We are called to protect, provide, and give of ourselves as Christ did (willing to die on a cross) in everything we do. Guys, if we're not doing this, we're part of the problem, not part of the solution. Too many of us are looking to receive, take, and let someone else suffer for us. I've been their more times than I'd like to admit.

This world is begging for all of its people to stand up and change things. I can only play my part as a man, and so I call out my fellow men to do the same. Take up your mantle. Be the "dad" God made you to be, whether you're an 18 year old or an 88 year old. Do it for the sake of our women. Do it for the sake of each other. Follow Jesus, and he'll show you exactly what needs to be done. And Saint Joseph ain't to shabby of an example himself.

Special thanks to the men who gathered for the first ever Men's Group Meeting of the Diocese of Rockville Centre last night. Good things will come!