One of the most anticipated blockbuster movies of the summer is released! It is finally here! Man of Steel - the epic new production of the Superman story - it has arrived. Not only do I like Spiderman, but I am a Superman fan - in fact before I wanted to be anything - I probably wanted to be Superman!
I rooted for Superman against all odds and every size of criminate. Whether it was the comic strip Jerry Siegel first drafted, or the TV George Reeve in his saggy suit or Christopher Reeves in his vilant pursuit - I was there as a child - cape made of a pillow case on my back - cheering Superman on! There is something about being known as the Man of Steel which screams out - you can tackle anything and never fail.
As we honour Dad’s this weekend in a particular way; we believe that our dad’s are men of steel, but we also know that to be a man of steel in faith in the world of today - wow it’s a battle against a whole planet of criminate! Yet for Men, for Dads;
✓ God’s word is a beacon here that Dad’s need
✓ In the Eucharist - the Blessed Sacrament - is the strength Dad’s must have.
✓ And our common prayer as we gather on this Lord’s Day - well is the powerful cape that will truly let every dad leap tall buildings in a single bound. There is power in this hour together. There is a strength that comes when we are here in prayer as one.
So briefly I want to address this to all dads and men of God - - and if your not a dad: be praying for your dad:
- If your dad is still living - that God’s grace might touch him and strengthen him.
- If your father is with the Lord - that God will be embraced your dad today with a special glance of love by the Lord.
- If your dad and you- well had differences, huge rifts or a cavernous emptiness due to abandonment or because of human failing & sinfulness - ask God’s forgiveness to touch all today.
In the promo for the new Superman movie is a moment in which Clark Kent has arrived at point of knowing there is something special about his abilities. He can do things nobody else can - including well fly - and he arrives at a moment where he kneels to the ground - sets his face toward the sky and places his fist to the ground, and with an intensity and force from within, shakes the earth, rises the dust and with a strength from his very inner core Superman rockets into the air for the first time. But just before, however, is a very telling moment. As he kneels - he decides his strength will not be used for him but for others.
St Paul, (Gal 2:16,19-21) says “ I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I but Christ who lives in me.” St Paul came to that point has he knelt not on earth but in the presence of His God, St Paul realized that God had placed a burden on his heart to live not for himself but to use his gifts, his talents, his abilities for the Kingdom of God. St Paul set his faced toward the sky and decided who he was living for.
Dad’s - Men of God - who are you living for ?
Is it the power of a career?
Is the prestige of a neighbour?
Is the precarious trap of wealth, worldly success?
Is it the pit of selfishness found on a internet screen, a chat room or a relationship not rooted in Gospel values?
Is it the pith of vocabulary with other men that builds not the dignity of other people?
To be a man of steel is to decide who you will live for?
David - a King - believe to be a man of steel - in (2 Sam 12. 7-10, 13) had failed. He wandered in his actions and choices from God - and he went to the Prophet Nathan - a true man of steel - and said why has this happened to me? Nathan said to David because you forgot you have been anointed.
Dad’s - Men of God - when the burden of responsibility of leading a home, providing for it, and being a role model of Gospel values within it, seems to become too great. When you feel alone or unsupported - remember this - you have been anointed by God for the role you have, and God will give the grace for you to be faithful. But you must turn to Him, and decide before Him
That you will use your abilities, talents, strengths to build up a home that will honour God.
That you use hear the sound from heaven and allow God to lead you to be the type of dad, husband, role model to your children and grandchildren, that He has burned into your heart.
That you will allow the power of a rushing wind of His love for you, permit you to remember that even when you fail you can arise, begin again because you have been anointed!
It takes you deciding to be a Man of Steele, to bend a knee every day, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament if you can - but anywhere - and look up to heaven and with a determination that shakes the earth and rises the dust of mediocrity to instead with an inner convinction proclaim “it is no longer I but Christ who lives in me.”
At the end of the day Dad’s you might not in reality be Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive or even able to leap tall buildings in a singlebound, but ..... you can still change the course of the mighty rivers in the life of your family. You can still bend the steel of disharmoney in your home with your bare hands. You can still undertake the fight for the never ending battle for Truth, Justice and the Gospel Way. If you do - well then - you are a Man of Steel!