Given the human condition, no one is (or has ever been) better than Jesus in helping the faithful understand what’s going on in their lives and how to virtuously move forward.
Hopefully, the “not-so-faithful” would heed his words as well. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Mt 7:7).
Our Lord spoke these words for everyone. There is this verse as well: “The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few; so, ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest” (Mt 9:37).
We’re all supposed to read the Bible and labor in the fields helping lead others to Jesus, who is the one necessary thing.
Our chief shepherd helps us with our lifelong mission to know, love and serve God. Right where we are.
Archbishop Bernard Hebda’s pastoral letter, “You Will Be My Witnesses: Gathered and Sent From the Upper Room” was released almost four years ago to help the archdiocese implement the initiatives discerned from the faithful’s participation in the 2022 Archdiocesan Synod. The letter called for forming parishes that are in the service of evangelization, forming missionary disciples who know Jesus’ love and respond to his call, and forming youth and young adults in and for a Church that is always young.
Fast forward to the archbishop’s latest letter to his flock, “Only One Thing Is Necessary: How Catholic Families Can Strive to Be United in This Life and the Next” (released last month and available at archspm.org/familyletter). In it, he suggests ways to “strengthen our efforts to prepare authentic, healthy Christian life in our families.” He invites the faithful to share our “gifts in service of building a culture” through supporting parents “as the first teachers of their children in the way of the faith.”
Spiritual fatherhood is how Catholic Watchmen strive to do their part, helping the Lord’s children to understand that “only one thing is necessary” in the way of the faith. The movement has always stressed God’s love, first and foremost, and love of neighbor. That is why our patron saint and model is St. Joseph — the epitome of spiritual fatherhood.
Anyone we care for can benefit from our witness and teaching. As parents, grandparents, brothers, uncles, or good friends to any family, we can provide encouragement and support by our leadership. The basics of being a spiritual father are prayer, reading Scripture, attending Mass, serving others, going to confession and having regular fellowship with a band of Christian brothers. Being God’s instrument to help save souls is an endearing and enduring responsibility of spiritual fatherhood.
Jesus chose his disciples and pointed out to them that there are plenty of people who need healing — spiritually and physically. The Apostles were first to pray that God would raise up laborers for his kingdom, and the Lord would send them on mission to heal, pray with and teach those in need. More than 2,000 years later our chief shepherd — our spiritual father who is part of the sacred lineage of apostolic succession — has given us “Only One Thing Is Necessary” to read, reflect and act upon. Archbishop Hebda is directing his flock to bring, grow and sustain a life of faith through the saving grace of knowing Jesus. That not only includes the domestic church representing our homes, but also our parish lives with our clergy, the sacraments, faith formation teachers and catechists, and in small groups. In obedience and humility, take this inspiring and informative letter to Eucharistic adoration and ask the Good Shepherd how you can do your part to witness and teach “the better part” (Lk 10:42).
Deacon Bird ministers to St. Joseph in Rosemount and All Saints in Lakeville and helps with the archdiocesan Catholic Watchmen movement. See heroicmen.com for tools supported by the archdiocese to enrich parish apostolates for ministry to men. For Watchmen start-up materials or questions contact Deacon Bird at gordonbird@rocketmail.com.
