Words by our Priest-in-Charge:

Father of All Comfort

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of sympathy (pity and mercy) and the God [Who is the Source] of every comfort (consolation and encouragement), who comforts (consoles and encourages) us in every trouble (calamity and affliction), so that we may also be able to comfort (console and encourage) those who are in any kind of trouble or distress, with the comfort (consolation and encouragement) with which we ourselves are comforted (consoled and encouraged) by God.2 Corinthians 1:3-4

The Church is the community of God’s people who has been called to reflect the love and character of God in the world. The purpose is that through the Church, those who do not yet know God would come into an intimate relationship with Him. Jesus came to save us from the deadly consequence of sin, yes, but more than that, He came to restore us to that relationship with His Father. It is through relating to God as Father through Jesus that we enter into abundant life – a life of freedom from purposelessness, bondages, ensnaring sins and fruitlessness.

The community life of the Church is meant to reflect and evident that loving relationship with God as the Father. Paul talks about God as “the Father of compassion or mercy” who is “the source of every comfort”. It is within God’s will and plan that as His people encounter Him as a loving Father, we will comfort, encourage, console all those who have been battered by sins and the power of darkness, to draw them into a personal relationship with the Father. However, many among God’s people today could not truly say that we know God as Father, know not in our intellect, but know Him as Father in a personal way. If we have not known the “Father of all Comfort”, we would have difficulty to truly comfort others who are in needs.

Today we celebrate Father’s Day. I pray that all the fathers in the Church, among God’s people, would be blessed with a personal encounter with God as a loving Father. Whatever might hindering us from coming into that relationship, I pray that the Holy Spirit would reveal and bring us to a place of freedom, so the fathers would love their children with the love of the Father.  I pray for all our children and they may come to know God as their Heavenly Father who loves them intimately, that they may grow up, conveying that love into every relationships. I pray for every man and woman to know God as Father, so that we might all be comforted that that we are not alone in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in. That we have a faithful loving Father who watches over us.

Blessed Father Day to all men. May we live our lives to reflect the Father’s glory and love.