The Image of the Father

I heard The Old Age Story before when I was still a studying Philosophy in Manila. The wordings were not the same of what sister Emilia shared to us but speaks the same thought.

Let me share to you my homily last June 17, Father's Day.

A few years ago I was giving a talk to some Singles for Christ. After the talk, a young man named Manuel came up to me to share a story with him.

When Manuel finished his story, I asked him if he would write it out so that he could share it with other people. Manuel gladly obliged.

Here is Mauel's story, in his own words:
"My father left home [when I was 11]...My whole family was broken [up]. The tears flowed for weeks, except mine.... I began to hate my father, especially for hurting my dear mother...

"I started into crime and drugs. At age 12 I was picked up for thefts... "Now my mother is a Handmaid of the Lord. She hounded me to go on this [retreat]... I knew nothing about it and only registered to get her off my back...

"During one of the large group talks, I began daydreaming about God. Then I visualized myself on my knees before Jesus as he hung on the cross. An enormous weight of guilt was upon me... I...wept for forgiveness. As I wept, God forgave me ..he loved me.

He loved me in all my filth..."I opened my eyes and wiped my tears...At last I knew that God was for real...

"I came off that retreat...high for the first time [in my life] without smoking, dropping, or drinking...I actually had to take the next day off work to think and to pray.

"While I was reading the bible, I began to think about my father. I didn't wan't anything to keep me from getting closer to Jesus, and so I called up my Tatay.

That night I went up to his apartment having prayed for the guidance by the Holy Spirit.

"When I arrived, we sat down and talked about nothing. Finally he asked, 'So what did you come for?' I was relieved he asked me, but I didn't know how to lead into it.

"So I explained how on the weekend I learned how I cannot judge any person for anything, no matter what. Then i asked for his forgiveness for hating him and having bitterness, and judging him...

"He left the room and came back with a folder...Then he pulled out a slip of paper which we both read. [It
was a note I had written him years before.] The note went like this:

"Manong: " 'Who do you think you are, and what are you doing? I hate you and I don't want anything from you ever again in my life.

Your ex-son,
Manuel'

"I was aware of all the pain he must have gone through, having carried that note all these years...I threw my arms around him and tears of forgiveness and love flowed beautifully....

Manuel's story also illustrates the spirit of Father's Day. It illustrates something we often overlook. It illustrates that fathers need forgiveness too.

So often we think of fathers as being perfect. But they are just like us. They have faults too--sometimes big faults.

Yet, beneath these faults is a loving person, a person who will keep for years a painful letter from a pain-filled son.

If Manuel's father had not kept that letter all those years. Manuel would never have known how much his father love him.

The great American father and general, Douglas McArthur. He says:
"By profession I am a soldier and I take pride in that fact--but I am prouder--infinitely prouder--to be a father.

"It is my hope that my son, when I am gone, will remember me not from battle, but in the home repeating with him our simple daily prayer: "'Our Father in heaven, holy is your Name...Forgive us as we forgive those who sins against us...


Compiled from the email of:

Bro. McRae Escarpe
St. Martin of Tours Parish Priest
Terrace Bay, Ontario
Email: raulescarpe@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.saveourparish.com