Anchored in the love of God the Father

First, to be a good father he should first be a good “Son of God the Father”. The father of the family represents
and reflects the image of God the Father. If a father has an identity crisis in the spiritual realm—that is to say,
he does not understand his intimate relationship to God the Father—then he will not be able to transmit to his
children and family an authentic vision of God the Father. Hence, he will not be able to love his family fully.

How do God the father loves His children? His Son Jesus Christ modeled to us His love – free, total, faithful, and
fruitful. (cf. Intimacy Weekend, CFC Supplemental Series Volume 1)

a. Free – “Because of His great love for us, Christ laid down His life for us on His own accord to give us eternal
life.”10 This should remind every fathers that to love his family, it should be unconditional. Regardless of the
difficulties he will experience, it should not lead him to count his efforts but to desire to give even more to his
family.

b. Total – “Christ’s love holds nothing back, not even His own life. He gives His whole self without reserve.”11 A
father’s love is without reservation characterized by patience, understanding, acceptance, and forgiveness.

c. Faithful – “He is true to His promise, He loves us forever, and He continues to love us even when we are
unfaithful.”12 A father’s love is without lie and deceit. How he loves should point out the good and the bad in
his family. He celebrates the good and corrects what is wrong. He is firm in his love as well as in his corrections.

d. Fruitful – “God’s love for us brings us fullness of life, a life of eternal happiness with Him.”13 A father’s love
should build up his family. His love should allow his wife and children to be the best version of their selves every
day. His love should lead them to be productive and should allow them to believe in themselves.

How about those who happened to have lost their father at a young age? How about those who are fatherless
due to unprecedented situation such as unwed parents or unwanted pregnancies? Those who were not
recognize by their fathers at birth? How about those who are not able to establish good and strong relationship
with their fathers? Those who are having the difficulty to reach out to their fathers?

It is consoling to know that despite all these sad realities, we have the “Man” who is always willing to be a father
to us – our God the Father himself! Whatever difficulties we have in the past, whatever challenges we have at
the present, and whatever worries we have in the future, our God the Father has long taken care of all these
things. In spirit and in truth, we are never fatherless!

St. Joseph, a model for all fathers

There are three things St. Joseph is commonly known for; the husband of Mary, a carpenter and a “just” man.
St. Joseph, though he is a husband of Mary and a father of Jesus is also someone who is relatable to all. His
character and experiences depicts what a father is today.

1. He was chosen by God to be the father of Jesus. “For a Christian who believes in Jesus Christ, who believes
that Jesus is a true God and true Man, that God was to choose Joseph as Our Lady’s spouse and the legal father
of Jesus, is sufficient reason for him to feel that perhaps Joseph was not, after all, such an ordinary man as he
seems. God had chosen him – in fact he had created him – to undertake one of the most difficult and responsible
missions which have ever been entrusted to man.”

2. He gave Jesus an identity here on earth. What makes St. Joseph a just man is when he knew that Mary is
pregnant, he did not expose her to shame. He chose to send her away silently only to accept her when an angel
appeared and explain to him everything in his dream. He accepts fathering Jesus thus giving Jesus an identity
here on earth.
3. He is a silent worker. “Joseph passes through the Gospel without our hearing him utter as much as a single
word. He is not on record as having written a single line. None of the things he did seem to have exceeded the
limits of the most common actions. He appears to have been – to use an overworked modern expression – a
man without a message.” Most of the father (if not all) are men of few words. You cannot expect a man to talk
most of the time, but his actions will speaks loudly. He think of means to support and sustain his family. He
fondly works at the background. He will not stop until he sees his family’s future is secured.

4. He is a Protector and Consoler. While asleep, St. Joseph received messages from God, who warned him about
the danger posed by King Herod and entrusted him with loving and protecting Mary and the Baby Jesus. It was
in a dream when Joseph accepted his role as putative father of Jesus and of all mankind, an archetypal figure of
protector, defender, and consoler. Joseph is the attentive and tender guardian of the Family, a just man who
accepts and guards the mysteries of God, as he willingly chose to accept and protect Mary, the woman chosen
by God to be the Most Holy and Immaculate Mother of His only Son.

Joseph is truly a special saint, who protects and helps us even while he sleeps! This is why, Fr. Marcello Stanzione
explains, the Pope has the habit of placing under the statue of the saint a list containing the problems, petitions,
and prayers of the faithful. It’s as if he were inviting Saint Joseph to “sleep on it,” and perhaps to put a good
word in before God to solve difficult situations and to help those in need, thus calling upon the saint’s role as a
father who is merciful and totally attentive to those he loves.

How do we know then that St. Joseph were able to perform his role of fathering Jesus? In the gospel narratives,
Jesus is always associated as “the carpenter’s son”. This simple point speaks loudly that St. Joseph did not only
able to perform his role but he was able to inculcate his character and identity to Jesus. He was able to give Jesus
his identity here on earth and embraced Jesus as his own.

Yes, it is true that in this lifetime a father will never be perfect and he is bound to fail. In his failures, he has a
perfect father to guide and help him - God the Father! As a father journeys, he is to constantly go back to his
heavenly Father who will fill whatever void he has as he lead his family and bless every good works of his hands.

Finally, may all the fathers turn to the best of earthly fathers, the good Saint Joseph, and beg for his powerful
intercession. St. Joseph, ornament of the domestic life, patron of families, patron of fathers, pray for us!

Guide Question:

1. What are your challenges in loving freely, fully, faithfully and fruitfully?
2. Being single, what characteristics of St. Joseph you want to adapt, for you to become a better servant
of God?