Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

Thoughts for the Week - Fr. R. Taouk 
17th July 2016

The Word "Our Father" by St. Francis de Sales

Father, I confess two things: One, that this gift and this great benefit comes from Your infinite goodness and infinite love that You have for me; the other, the word. Father sits well on the lips of Your only Son, my Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son by an eternal, consubstantial generation, but on mine, I am a great sinner, it is unbecoming, it is not appropriate, I do not deserve. However, since it pleases You, I wholeheartedly call You Father.

This word confirms for me the immense love You bear me, Lord. It also teaches me and I am also warned that I must love You with all my heart. What ungrateful son can we find in the world, having a good father, holy, sweet, glorious and loving as You are, he does not like? So, Father, that my heart is driven every other love, whether it is inflamed, so that between you, Father, and I Your child there is a continual mutual love.

The word Father excites me to ask You the things that are necessary for me, as the father never refuses his child what he sees to be necessary to him, provided he can give it to him. I know, Father, that You can and want; You can because You are all-powerful; You want because You are all good. The needs do not fail me; I am wounded by many sins, I need remedies. You, Father, You are the doctor who heals every infirmity and heals every sickness (Mt. 4). Have pity on me, Lord, for I am weak; heal me, for my bones are troubled (Ps. 6), and I shall be healed. Lord, heal the soul, see how it goes before you injured … wounds with pride, avarice, lust, etc. and lovingly asks for health.

Father, I was naked and stripped of clothing - virtues. Father, give me the bridal dress of charity, so I can look at Your wedding; the robe of obedience, that I obey Your commands and Your laws; the dress of humility, that I may be pleasing to Your eyes. Put on me rich garments - infused virtues; give me the perfect faith, firm hope and ardent charity.

I ask You, then, O good Father, You deign to exercise towards me fatherly offices. The father strikes his son when he goes astray, so he corrects himself, because otherwise, if he did not, he would do worse. Strike me, Lord, with mercy. Burn and cut here, so You may forgive me in eternity. Father after having corrected me for my follies with Your mercy, deign to visit me with some spiritual consolation, caress the soul by inner sweetness in it burn Your love. Oh! what excites consolation in my soul this word: Father, not only comfort, but gladness and great joy. Oh! what is my joy, what my glee with that sweet word, Father, ringing in my ears! Humiliated my soul, destroyed my bones because of my many sins, recreate and take a new force hearing this word: Father. What greater joy can I have that recollection that I have a Father so good, He is goodness itself; so holy, He is holiness itself; so wise, wisdom itself, and finally so powerful, He can do all things in Heaven, on Earth and in the depths. That the rich are happy of their wealth, the powerful of their power, the wise men of wisdom, for me, I will rejoice in my Lord, because You are my Father and our Father!