What is a Father?
“Father” is a sacred title, not given lightly.
When is the first moment in which a man begins to become a father?
Some may believe that Fatherhood begins with a single cell received by the mother.
By this cold single cell many people may define “Fatherhood”.
But that single cell has little to nothing to do with becoming a Father.
Fatherhood is truly seeded, the first moment a man sincerely cares about the life he contributes in creating, or the first moment a man cares about a life another created.
Fatherhood grows or dies within the man as he chooses or chooses not to care for, love for, guide, protect and guide that life beside the co-creator.
The beginning of the ideal influence of Fatherhood may come with that single cell, if and when the man cares for the recipient of the single sell and seeks after her welfare in the creating of that life and shows concern for the welfare of and the physical, emotional, and spiritual development of that new life.
While some men weak, selfish and seeking merely to gratify their physical desires with a woman, fatherhood may not begin in that first moment. Such men may never become Fathers.
But some, but not all of men who fall into this particular example may be moved to love, once they learn and accept the creation the participated in.
Some men, cold and unfeeling, are irritated and distressed by the inconvenient impact on himself and still this man is not a father of the most beautiful creation of a child.
Such a man may openly reject the sacred calling as father-co-creator of life by his adamant open denial of his accountability, responsibility of that life, and the results of the single cell. This man’s actions are tragic, frightening and heart rending.
He may blame the woman as a seductress. He may claim there was another co-creator with even the most virtuous woman.
He may openly lament, refuse, and deny with a thousand protest, and excuses his calling as father.
He may physically, spiritually and emotionally abuse his co creator and the new life.
This man is NOT a Father.
Heavenly Father as the example
We call our one True God, The Father, or “Heavenly Father” because of our belief in him as our ultimate Creator. We are created in his image and he provides for us every opportunity for us to become like him and fulfill our ultimate potential as creators in this Great Universe.
“Heavenly Father” the title is given in our belief in his absolute concern and caring for us and our belief that he acts on his love and concern.
Those who loose faith in our creator in times if difficulty and come to believe that our creator does not care for us, revoke the title of “Father” from God, signifying our hardwired understanding that the word “Father” means one who intimately cares.
Joseph, Step-Father to Jesus Christ As an example
The Fatherhood of Joseph, Step Father to Jesus Christ our Lord, began the moment he sought guidance from God in prayer for his relationship to Mary and her conceived child. His willingness to forgive the wrongly perceived offense of his espoused wife. His willingness to ask and receive counsel from the Lord reflected his humility and love.
In complete contrast to the man who conceives and rejects, Joseph had full knowledge that he had no part in the creation of Christ's life, as he never had “known” Mary in the biblical definitions, he saw her virtuous nature, though it was beyond the reasoning of his mind. In mercy, in love, in faith, he accepted the vision given to him and embraced his role as companion, provider, protector the the mother Mary and the child.
Joseph, Step-Father to Jesus willingly passed through great trials, adversities, and hardships to protect, provide and care for Mary and her child. We do not know what passed through Joseph’s mind in these adversities, but his ultimate choice and the path he followed, was to stand by Mary and her child, now his.
So, despite Joseph’s non participation in Christ's creation, he became a true Father to Christ, by his love of Mary and willingness to take on the mantle of Fatherhood at her side.
I find the contrast between the man who creates life, and boldly rejects it, and the Joseph, Step Father of Christ, who embraced the challenges, hardships and blessings of fatherhood profound.
