Oh My Papa

 

The men’s prayer group played a video this morning of the 1974 Paul Anka hit, Oh My Papa, and I cried as I recalled and softly sang the words: “Oh my papa, to me he was so wonderful …”.  When I got back home, I found that on-line video and saved it on my computer for future playings.

I’ve read many stories (and heard personally) about the impact of bad or absent dads on their children.  Most of the most prominent atheists of our time had terrible fathers.  I know that aborting or the taking of a life, which is a gift from God, is very wrong in all cases, but I don’t pretend to understand how that evil compares to the accepting of God;s gift of life, a child, and then then abusing it.  Created in His Image, we were meant to live and protect that image.  Jesus showed us how.  And He showed us what love is.  An image is made so that you can perceive the reality of the original by looking at it.  When people look at us, are they inclined in some way to see God?  Our earthly fathers are so important in helping us grow in that image, of our heavenly Father.

So, either play the Oh My Papa song and cry in happiness, or don’t listen to songs like that, but pray for your father.  For some reason, God chose you as a gift to him, him being good or bad (as we now understand it).

But no father is perfect.  The night I heard that old hit song, I had dreams of the blessings my father gave to me.  And then I recalled the time or two where he failed.  No person is perfect while on earth.  So, I’m having a mass said for him on the 30^th of this month.  It’s a good thing to pray for both our parents. God chose our parents for a reason, amd I pray I can live up to His reasons. 

And, I recalled that I AM special to God.  After WWII my dad came home with post-traumatic stress syndrome, but they didn’t call it that then.  And he was so bad that my mom tossed him out.  And after living as a hobo for 6 months he came back, better I guess.  And within a year later I was born.  I’m sure no relatives back then faulted my mom for tossing my dad out.  But if that “bad man” wasn’t allowed back, I wouldn’t be writing this now.

All life is a gift from God, and for a reason.

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And after I finished reflecting and writing the above words, while in the adoration chapel, God gave me a nudge, or perhaps His thoughts on the matter.  I began reading the book My Other Self again recently.  In the words of the book, Jesus speaks to you.  I opened to my bookmark, which was on page 21.  Jesus spoke straight to the heart of the matter.

Body and Spirit --- Who Am I?

The Gospel had Jesus say who He was: “I came from the Father.”  But the Jews HEARD He was born of Joseph and Mary.

They were speaking different languages.

After the Gospel was read this morning, we began our prayer intentions.  We prayed for our incoming new pastor, that his spirit would unite with ours.  We prayed for our local parish and our united efforts, united in spirit, to do the will of God.  We prayed for all God’s children --- on earth, in Purgatory, and in heaven (The Church once emphasized how we were united in spirit, the Church Militant on earth, the Church Suffering in Purgatory, and the Church Triumphant in heaven; we are all one in spirit).

When we are too hung up with this world, we forget there is a world beyond, promised to us by Jesus Christ.  We think our body and all its longings is all there is.  Once, there was a huge emphasis in the world on family or community.  We longed to, in some way, belong with others, even if only as a group of bodies.  But it was our spirit yearning, for we are not JUST bodies.

A number of times at mass we are reminded, as the priest says: “The Lord be with You,” and in case there is any doubt about what that means, the people respond: “And with your spirit.”  And then at the Consecration of the mass, we ask the Spirit to come down on the bread and wine we offer “that they may become the Body and Blood of Christ.”  Even that bread, the Spirit comes upon it, and it becomes the Body of Christ.  Body and Spirit; it’s who Jesus Christ was; it is who we are.  We need to remember that.

I think that, in part, because of the decline in emphasis on family, on community in the world, many people have come to seek a different kind of community, a much more superficial one than the union of spirit we were made for --- the ultimate reason we were created.  Instead we settle for “something, rather than nothing.”  And we began to seek a community, a unity, in some small fragment of who we are.

I’m a Tiger’s fan.  Us blonds have to stick together.  I’m a Nike person.  I have 300 likes on Facebook.  I’m a member of Mensa.  I am gay.

A relatively tiny part of who we look like physically, or what we do in our spare time, becomes a major focus of our thoughts, to the point where we say: “That’s who I am.”  And we seek community in that piece of us, of who we really are.

We might as well say: “I’m an ear, and let’s all us ears get together so we can hear better.”  That’s not how we were made, nor what we were made for.  Gathering with other ears does not make us hear better.  We are not an ear, even though the ear is an important part of the body.  It needs the other parts which are also important.  And even more important, it needs all the parts united which make up the body, and the union of body and spirit which truly makes us who we are.

Who am I?  It’s not what I do.  It’s not what’s in the mirror.  It’s who I was created to be --- despite whatever I might want.  We need to find who that is, and be all of that person, body and spirit.  Only God knows who that is, but He will tell us, if we ask Him.

Review: A Season of Grace

The subtitle of this book is:  Embracing God’s Gifts in the Autumn of Our Lives.

This is Carolyn Bassett’s first book.  It’s timing is perfect for me, and many in my life.  The book consists of 75 short meditations --- 2 pages each --- and closing prayers.  The meditations are on the life experiences of herself or those she met, and the meaning of those experiences, the deep meaning.  Unlike other books of this ilk, almost every one of her meditations evokes memories in me, which causes the prayers to be read with deep sincerity.  She writes of God’s love, family, celebrations, and life’s sharing of experiences and memories.  And she addresses sadness, loneliness, suffering and dying.  Her positive meditations on all these situations end with confident prayers to God.

·         Father, regardless of what trials I may endure, you promise that you will never leave me or forsake me.  I embrace your love ...

·         Father, your faithfulness toward me brings me joy and peace.  Help me be faithful in turn to the people in my life.

·         Father, your mercy knows no limits.  Help me to grow in mercy and to be more effective in supporting others close to me.

·         Father, thank you for all the people in my life.  Help me to stay engaged, even when I am not feeling well.

·         Lord, you know what concerns I have about the future.  Help me to work through them with great hope, no matter what the circumstances may be.

This is a book for anyone over the age of 60, for caregivers, and for those despairing of any age.  In every life there is hope, there is reason, there is value.  These meditations open your heart to the fact that you are not walking alone.  Many will receive this book for Christmas from me, and copies will always be on my bookshelf for those in need.