My Five Good Fathers

            This Sunday we will be remembering and honoring fathers as we celebrate Father’s Day.  In my sermon, I will explore the essential qualities that a “good father” should have.  My scripture for this week is Luke 15: 11-32, the parable of the “Prodigal Son.”  This is one of Jesus’ richest parables and we can reflect on it from many different perspectives.  This time, I will interpret the parable focusing on the father.

            From this perspective, the parable of the Prodigal Son is a story about a parent’s relationship with his two sons.  When we reflect upon the father’s actions in the story, four essential qualities emerge:

1.      He respects his child’s freedom to make his own mistakes in life.  When their children are young, parents become accustomed to protecting them.  For instance, with a young child, a good father will reach out and grab his child to keep her from running out into a busy street in front of speeding cars.  Or, he will resist requests to stay up late and not get enough sleep.  Parents are protective of their children because, when their child is hurt, good parents suffer with their child as he suffers.  As children grow older and mature, parents are tempted to try and prevent any harm from coming to them.  So, when a parent sees their child about to make a bad decision that will likely result in much heartache and suffering, there is an almost irresistible temptation to tell the child that she cannot do something.  While the mother’s motive is pure, it is restrictive and unfair to the older child.  Each of us deserves the freedom to make our own decisions—and to make our own mistakes.

Undoubtedly, the father of the prodigal son knew that he was making a terrible mistake, when he asked for all of his inheritance and made plans to travel to a new and exciting and foreign land.  Yet, the father resisted the temptation to be paternalistic and try to protect his son from this terrible mistake.

2.      The father took the first initiative to be reconciled and repair the relationship with his sons.  When the younger son asked for his inheritance and left his father’s household, in Jewish culture, he dishonored his father and treated him as though he were already dead.  Later, after the younger son’s return, the older son became indignant when he learned that the father was throwing a party for the prodigal son.  In both cases, it was the father who first took the initiative to be reconciled with his children.  When the father saw the prodigal son returning, he ran to him.  And, when the older son was pouting in the yard, it was the father who went out to reconcile with him.

3.      The father affirms his two sons.  With both sons, the father takes an attitude and posture that affirms them and claims them as his beloved sons.  At the party celebrating the return of the prodigal son, the father publicly proclaims, “This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!”  Even though the prodigal son had dishonored his father and acted as though his father was dead, it is the father who affirms their relationship and proclaims that his son is alive.  When the older son lashes out at his father because of the welcome home party, it is the father who affirms their relationship and re-assures him, by saying:  “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.”

4.      The father show compassion and love.  Throughout the parable, in his dealings with both sons, the father exhibits tremendous love and compassion for his two sons.

I think that in the parable of the Prodigal Son, the father provides a great foundation for identifying the essential qualities of a “good father.”  Perhaps there are other qualities as well.  Earlier on the Meriden United Methodist Church Facebook page, I asked that readers identify what they think are essential qualities of a “good father.”  See our Facebook page at:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Meriden-United-Methodist-Church/72561738004.  I will be sharing and discussing these suggested qualities during my sermon on Sunday.  If you know of qualities that should be included in our list, it is not too late to share them with me.  You can share them by posting a comment to this blog.

In my sermon this week, I will also suggest that being a “good father” is not restricted to being a biological father.  Actually, most of us can identify biological fathers who are both good and bad fathers.  All of us, perhaps, can identify key persons in our lives who have been like a father to us—or, like a mother to us.  That is certainly the case in my life.  So, in the proclamation this week, I will not just talk about my own, biological father.  In addition to my Dad, I will also share the stories of four other men who have been like a father to me.  Hence the title of my proclamation, “My Five Good Fathers.”

 

If you live in the Meriden-area and do not have a regular church home, please consider attending Meriden United Methodist Church this Sunday.  Meriden UMC is located at the corner of Dawson and Main.  Our worship service starts on Sundays at 10 am.  Everyone is welcome and accepted because God loves us all.