Who is the Father of God?

06-16-2024Weekly ReflectionFr. Robert Aliunzi

Dear Friends,

This was the simple but profound question I was asked one day by one of my OLMC preschool friends named Luke this past school year. Much as Luke constantly asks me very many questions whenever I visited their class or after Mass, this particular one about the Father of God caught me completely off guard. For all my years of studying theology, some years of teaching religious education and years of preaching, I could not immediately provide him with a simple response suitable for a four-year-old.

And I will not attempt to do so even now, maybe later. However, that innocent question jolted my mind and got me thinking as I pondered on the idea of fatherhood on this Fathers’ Day Sunday. It reminded me of the significant role our fathers play in our lives, especially at our tender young age when we want to know so many things and everything.

That is why little Luke’s question reminded me of my four-year-old nephew, Jordan, who I observed at that same age also had a consistent habit of asking his father “why” for everything he was told to do. The word “why” punctuated his response to literally every instruction given to him – whether it is a call to have his meals, a reminder to take a nap, go to the bathroom or even a reprimand. Yes, this is characteristic of most, if not all, children whether here in our country or in Africa or indeed elsewhere.

However, I remember, growing up, some of us never had the opportunity to ask “why” because it was traditionally sacrilegious for a child to respond to an elder that way and in my particular case, I lost my father at the age of five. Nevertheless, I now realize that this did not take away our questions. We somehow found our own answers. Therefore, beyond the thought of a generation devoid of innocence which some of the questions children ask these days evokes, we must recognize the bare fact that we live in a time of many questions, but with few or no plausible answers. Unless the right people like our fathers take charge to give the right answers, the wrong people will do it on our behalf.

Like little Luke and my nephew Jordan, who are continuously asking “why”, our children have very many questions. These questions range from the reason for their existence, about truth, myths and the life after now. This quest for answers is irrespective of age and continues to be as relevant as they were and as they will be. So, who is answering the “whys” in your child’s life? In the olden days, children had an opportunity to interact regularly with their parents – especially fathers more than today. Fathers provided leadership as heads of their families while mothers concentrated on homemaking and child upbringing. Sadly, today, these personal relationships and interactions are being replaced by Facebook, instagram, television programs and so forth because of absentee fathers.

Growing up in Africa, I recall that around the fireplace, our elders and especially the fathers told us stories and taught us about our cultures and values, about how to be a responsible and respectable man while the older women taught the girls about the dignity of womanhood and the responsibilities of a woman in the home. Sadly, even in Africa times have changed. Today, most children do not know anything about the cultural values and slowly, the “family mealtime” tradition is being sacrificed even here in our country on the altar of social media. Yes, the only available time together is when we gather around the television to watch our favorite programs, sports or play video games.

Ironically during that time, the instructions are clear: maximum silence. No one wants to miss a line of the show during that sacred time. Is it then any wonder that our children are becoming more antisocial, depressed or even suicidal? We have left them to find solace and answers in the smartphones because our jobs make us too busy to relate with them and unfortunately, these gadgets do not most times communicate durable values or any values at all.

We may not get back the traditional “fireplace time”, but each of our homes can reinvent a custom that facilitates consistent interactions beginning with common family prayers led by you fathers. The most reliable environment to begin this from is our families led by you fathers keeping in mind that a family that prays together and eats together, stays together. Therefore, I challenge you fathers, as we celebrate you today, to reclaim your rightful place as heads of your families. It is only then that we can fruitfully answer little Luke’s question: “Who is the Father of God?”

Happy Fathers’ Day to you all, dear fathers.

I love you!