Dear friends in Christ

In the Gospel of the Mass this Sunday, Our Lord reproaches the Pharisees for performing deeds only to attract the attention of the people including their desire for social standing and approval. He goes on to say that there is only one Teacher and Doctor who is Christ, and there is only one Father, who is in Heaven. God enjoys the fullness of paternity and earthly fathers participate in His paternity whenever they contribute to new life. Those who foster faith in others also partake in this paternity. St Paul writes to the Christians in Corinth: For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. But I became your father in Christ Jesus through the Gospel. I urge you, then, to be imitators of me (1Cor4:14). He felt a deep paternal responsibility for all his children in need. This is why the Church teaches us that the people who foster our Faith through preaching and the Sacraments, should also be seen as our parents. We each participate in the spiritual parenthood of the many souls whom we have helped to find Christ and the salvation He alone brings. Paternal love, always involves a special readiness to expend oneself and be poured out for the sake of those who come within one's range of activity. In marriage, this readiness, even though open to all, consists mainly in the love that parents give to their children. In virginity, this readiness is open to all, who are embraced by the love of Christ the Spouse (St Pope John Paul II, Mulieris Dignitatem,21). Saint Joseph can be a model and help to us in this dimension of the Christian life, when it comes to our concern for the well-being and salvation of others. If we go to Joseph, we learn from him how to grow in love for our neighbour; he was the fatherly teacher of the Son of God on earth!

May God bless you!

Msgr Kevin Hale