+ Psychologists tell us that for several reasons it is not a good thing to say to your child for purposes of discipline: “You just wait until your father gets home!”
And that is exactly what happened again and again and again in the Jewish scriptures affectionately called the Old Testament: “You just wait now until your heavenly Father responds!” they promised his wrath.
They promised his punishment. They promised suffering. All of this for spiritual discipline and a return to God’s favor.
+ Jesus puts it in other terms. He says that we must become like little children if we even want to enter the kingdom of God: “Like little children.”
What does that mean?
+ Most say innocence. But the real quality that most identifies a child is their dependence on and total trust in their parents.
If we had the same total dependence on and trust in God our Father, we would (the scriptures declare) know, experience, grow in and thrive upon the power of the kingdom of God that is in our midst.
+ In respect to that dependence on and trust in God, we celebrate his special love for us in and through the Guardian Angels that live in constant praise of God and constantly watch over, protect and help us with God’s constant love.
What a thought! What a belief! What a promise! What a hope!
+ “Now wait until your father gets home! No, rather; your Father is home and invites you to share the love and constant care that will one day welcome us home fully to share his eternal love!”
Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.
