Jesus as Father

[Edwardjohn]

When Jesus first revealed himself to me I was 7. That was 60 years ago. During that 60 years, up to this point, I’ve always given credit and thanks to Jesus for what he has done. I have a hard time addressing the Father. I don’t know why without giving a psychological reason. I’m just wondering if anyone else has, or does, have a similar situation? … ed

 

[fide]

I think that many, many people have had difficulty praying to God the Father, because of very less-than-perfect experience with human fathers! Do you have a copy of the {universal} Catechism? There are several on-line, which you could use to look up this paragraph, and the ones following this one. The Catechism addresses this issue specifically here:

2779 Before we make our own this first exclamation of the Lord’s Prayer, we must humbly cleanse our hearts of certain false images drawn “from this world.” Humility makes us recognize that “no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him,” that is, “to little children.”<Mt 11:25-27> The purification of our hearts has to do with paternal or maternal images, stemming from our personal and cultural history, and influencing our relationship with God. God our Father transcends the categories of the created world. To impose our own ideas in this area “upon him” would be to fabricate idols to adore or pull down. To pray to the Father is to enter into his mystery as he is and as the Son has revealed him to us.

I put a lot in bold, because it is important and relevant to your post. God the Father is NOT another version of my earthly father or yours - or anyone’s. Even Joseph - husband of Mary and step-father of the Lord Jesus - even holy St. Joseph - was only human, not the divine Father of Jesus the Son.

To grow in prayer, we must follow the wisdom of Scripture, and let Jesus teach us about the Father in heaven.

 

[Edwardjohn]

Thanks. And that makes sense. … Ed