June 16, 2017

My Journey to God

Thank You, Priests, on Father’s Day

Father not through child’s birth
Nor to a few upon the Earth,
But of each soul to whom life has been blessed.

No little one do you tuck in
With blanket gathered to the chin,
Yet many souls you lay to final rest.

You do not work to bring home food
To waiting wife and hungry brood,
But to a world in need of nourishment—

Not of food that man has made
But of the food that Jesus gave—
The food of desp’rate souls’ encouragement:

The very body and the blood
Of Jesus Christ, our risen Lord—
A Father’s gift of everlasting life.
And as a Father you advise,
With words so Holy Spirit wise,
All who confess their acts of sin and strife.

As a father for his offspring
Lays his life out as an off’ring,
So, too, you give your life to all your fold.

Thank you, priests, for in the myst’ry
Of serving in persona Christi
The Father’s love will be forever told.

By Natalie Hoefer
 

(Natalie Hoefer is a member of St. Monica Parish in Indianapolis and is a reporter for The Criterion.) †

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