Parent paradigm

There are those who reject the concept of God as Father, claiming that the very notion of Father has been irreparably damaged by bad experiences of earthly fathers. Instead, they may speak of God as “mother” or use the sterile and impersonal term “parent.”

Today’s first reading (Isaiah 49:8-15) gives wonderful perspective to this issue, while expressing beautifully the unfailing love God has for his people.

Can a mother forget her infant,
be without tenderness for the child of her womb?
Even should she forget,
I will never forget you.

Whenever we have received true love and care from our earthly fathers, mothers or any caregiver, we have learned a little about who God is and how God loves us, but even if all human love should vanish and we receive great harm from those who should have cared for us, yet God’s love remains and can heal all our hurts and fill up every emptiness in our heart.