Father, I Know that You hear me always, The Way to a Wonderful Life

         "And don't call anyone on earth 'Father,' because you have only one Father, the one in heaven." - Gospel of Matthew 23:9

        Since we are celebrating "Father's Day" today, I thought of this statement from the Master Mind Jesus and wondered just why he would give this instruction to his followers.  We can read in the Gospel of John 4:24 that he told us that "G-d is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" ... and I am certain this statement in itself was confusing and mostly misunderstood by those he was speaking to.  But, Jesus, being a Master Mind, knew that his words were something that we must "experience" ... not something to accept in our intellect only.  I believe that he was attempting to teach us to look beyond anything that we can see in the world or can even mentally conceive of as being G-d.  And, I believe that he desired that we all accept G-d as Father; provider of life, intelligence, power and spirit ... infinite beyond human conception. 

       The only religion to my knowledge that uses the word "Father" to address someone is the Catholic Church.  And this too as always been puzzling to me since it is an obvious contradiction to Jesus' instruction.  I don't think Jesus was referring to our physical fathers, instead he was using this instruction as a "caution" to not place man in the position of being an intercessor for G-d.  Or worst yet, to elevate man to the level of G-d.  His instruction, it appears is that we are not to put our faith, our trust, nor our reliance on man, but to look to G-d with faith, trust and absolute reliance, and G-d alone.  This is similar to the statement in Deuteronomy 6:15 of the ancient wisdom:  "for the LORD your God in the midst of you is a jealous God" ... and we have all seen often enough the chaos that happens when we put our faith in a person rather than rely on the guiding wisdom of G-d.  In G-d we are all equal ... G-d doesn't see saints or sinners or popes or dopes ... just a Living Spirit, a part of Itself, having a human experience.

      Dr. Joseph Murphy gives us insight into what I believe Jesus was implying:  "Your faith is in your mind, and in your deeper mind dwells the omnipotence of God, which responds to your thought and feeling.  This is why you can overcome all circumstances and conditions. ... If you believe something it will manifest - whether or not you are consciously thinking of it.  Believe only in that which heals, blesses, and inspires you.  You are spiritually blind when you don't know that thoughts are things, that what you feel you attract, and that what you imagine, you become.  Your real belief about God determines your whole fate.  Your believe about God is your real belief about yourself.  Man(kind) is belief expressed."

    And in these words we can see why the Master Mind Jesus taught that we must not call anyone on earth "Father" ... for the Father, Spirit, is within everyone, no exceptions.  And the role of our father on earth is to teach us to align our nature with the nature of G-d to the level that we have the awareness to do so.  "I and my Father are One" means that we are of the nature of G-d and as we understand this to a greater degree, we shall find ourselves indentifying more and more with the power and the intelligence of G-d.  And all the fathers who teach this to their children shall find not only are their children blessed, but they are blessed as well for doing so.

       And how are fathers to go about teaching their children that the Spirit of G-d is within them?  They can begin by teaching their children that the words G-d and Good are synonymous.  In the Aramaic language of Jesus the word "Good" was used in referring to G-d.  Fathers can teach their children that when they mentally and emotionally strive to always act and think with honesty, integrity, generosity, good will towards others and understanding, they are loving G-d because they are focused on that which is good. And as we love G-d, all good things come to us with grace and ease.  That is, truly love G-d recognizing that each one's life is some part of G-d's Life.

AND SO IT IS!

Keep the faith!
Rev. Henry Bates