Having just gotten married, I have been reflecting a lot on the nature of fatherhood, as I hope to one day be a father. It also breaks my heart how little Father’s Day is celebrated in the United States in contrast to other holidays. After some cursory research into holiday celebration, I developed a theory – people don’t care to celebrate fathers. And I believe this cultural rejection of fathers reflects a deeper rejection of God the Father.
As I researched holiday popularity in the US, Father’s Day didn’t come close to being at the top of the list. In one statistic, 92% of people would prefer to celebrate any other holiday over Father’s Day, and twice as many people are more excited about dressing up as a witch than they are in celebrating their father. I am very glad that 13% of people love celebrating Mother’s Day (Thanks for your gift to me, Mom!). Though it does make me wonder why fathers are not awarded as much honor.
I also find it interesting that Father’s Day (which is celebrated in June), is also being overshadowed by “pride month.”
I do not want to stir up a debate about the existence of pride month. I personally have many dear friends who experience same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria. Many of these friends are striving to live the Church’s teachings on purity, and they are some of the most real and genuine people that I know. They are incredible! Sadly, many of those who experience same-sex attraction feel isolated from the Church. That’s why we as a Church have a responsibility to welcome them and celebrate them, as the Prodigal Son’s father celebrated him. The father did not celebrate his sin. He celebrated his sonship. We all long to be celebrated like little children do. As Jesus said, I “did not come to save the righteous but sinners.” And we are all sinners in need of His Mercy.
That said, I think it is telling that the cultural phenomenon that is “pride month” overshadows Father’s Day. Spiritually, this makes sense. The very ideology of the LGBTQ+ agenda is, at its core, a rejection of God the Father’s will in Jesus Christ. And that is understandable. Many people who reject the fatherhood of God have been wounded by their earthly father. So, would I be surprised that this movement would overshadow the day celebrating fathers in the United States?
From the beginning of history, there has been a war over the fatherhood of God. In the garden Satan put into question the goodness of the Father. And our own earthly father often affirm our suspicions of fatherhood. But St Paul in Ephesians chapter 5 tells us how husbands and fathers are called to lead their families – they are called to lay down their lives for their families by serving them.
So, this Father’s Day, thank your father for how he has sacrificed for you. Give him a thoughtful, card affirming him, a funny tie, or that cool box wrench set that he has been wanting. Also, show love to those that experience same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria. Why, you might ask? Because they are the Father’s children too. And every good father longs for nothing more than to see his children smile. And when you love His children, you make Him smile. And lastly… maybe also give God the Father a Father’s Day card thanking Him. After all… I suspect He receives very few of those.
Fatherhood is a gift
Gabriel Milano has his Master’s degree in Theology in Marriage and Family at the John Paul II Institute and is a content creator and speaker for TOBET. He also writes fantasy novels for children and young adults, under the pen name G. M. Dantes.
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