Wednesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
The U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas, never knew his biological father. Nevertheless, he had a great fatherly figure, his maternal grandfather, Myers Anderson. Myers was a devout Catholic man and encouraged his grandson to bear slights and hurts without complaint, to force his emotions inward instead of out. Myers also instilled in his grandson a clearly defined conviction about right and wrong. Myers’ absolutism made Clarence an uncompromising man when it came to the beliefs about right and wrong, a trait that continues to win him many admirers. Myers never allowed his grandson to believe they had many possessions. He constantly reminded the family of the sacrifices he and their ancestors made to get them where they were. Clarence clung strongly to Myers’ belief about hard work and self-reliance.
St. Paul, in the first reading, says, “we treated each one of you as a father treats his children, exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into his Kingdom and glory.” Do these passages remind you of any situation with which you have struggled or a relationship with your father or a fatherly figure in your life? Would be you be interested to treat others like a father treats his children?
Perhaps you can ponder and reflect on what makes it challenging to treat others like a father treats his children. Talk with Jesus about what is in your mind and heart, knowing that you are held in God’s Fatherly love.