The following is the second of two parts of “The Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth.”

Here is where we start to deviate from our Jewish brethren and, to a greater extent, our Muslim brethren.

The idea and scope of God as “Father” is extraordinary. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 238 and 239) says, “Many religions invoke God as ‘Father.’ The deity is often considered the ‘father of gods and of men.’ In Israel, God is called ‘Father’ inasmuch as he is Creator of the world. Even more, God is Father because of the covenant and the gift of the law to Israel, ‘his first-born son …’ By calling God ‘Father,’ the language of faith indicates two main things: that God is the first origin of everything and transcendent authority; and that he is at the same time goodness and loving care for all his children.”

The idea of God as loving, caring for children and one to be loved back makes all the difference on who God is and how we are to view Him. Instead of YWHW, we can say, “Father” or “Abba” in St. Paul’s language. Yes, we are his creatures but born to be children of God, part of a family.  The devil is hard at work destroying human fatherhood so the idea of thinking of God as loving Father is hard to relate to and possibly revolting.

When we recite, “The Father Almighty …” in the creed, we may not give it much consideration; it’s “obvious.” But St. Thomas adds that we should have “good effects of our faith” with this statement.

1) “We are led to a knowledge of the divine majesty. Now, if a maker is greater than the things he makes, then God is greater than all things which He has made. ‘If through delight in the beauty of these things’ men assumed them to be gods, let them know how much better than these is their Lord, for the author of beauty created them. And if men were amazed at their power and working, let them perceive from them how much more powerful is He who formed them (Wisdom 13:3-4).’”

The greater we know, the greater we can love.  Compare your “wonder and awe” of nature with the “wonder and awe” when contemplating the creator!

2) “We are led to give thanks to God. Because God is the Creator of all things, it is certain that what we are and what we have is from God: ‘What have you that you did not receive? (1 Cor 4:7).’ ‘The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof; the world and those who dwell therein (Ps 24:1).’ We, therefore, must render thanks to God: ‘What shall I render to the Lord for all his bounty to me? (Ps 116:12)’”

How often is it that we go about our day and fail to give thanks to God? Do we even take the time to give thanks before we eat? Gratitude disposes us to a happier, more peaceful life.  

3) “We are led to bear our troubles with patience. Although every created thing is from God and is good according to its nature, yet, if something harms us or brings us pain, we believe that such comes from God, not as a fault in Him, but because God permits no evil that is not for good. Affliction purifies from sin, brings low the guilty, and urges on the good to a love of God. ‘Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? (Job 2:10)’”

4) “We are led to the right use of created things. Thus, we ought to use created things as having been made by God for two purposes: ‘The Lord has made everything for its purpose (Prov 16:4)’ (that is, for the glory of God), and finally for our profit: ‘Which the Lord thy God created for the service of all the nations (Dt 4:19).’ Thus, we ought to use things for God's glory in order to please Him no less than for our own profit, that is, so as to avoid sin in using them.”

5) “We are led also to acknowledge the great dignity of man. God made all things for man and man is more like to God than all other creatures save the Angels. ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness (Gen 1:26).’ [T]his likeness of God in man does not refer to the body but to the human soul, which has free will and is incorruptible (immortal). Let us not, therefore, diminish his dignity by sin and by an inordinate desire for earthly things which are beneath us and are made for our service.”