Did you know that Jesus quotes from the Book of Deuteronomy more than any other Old Testament book?

The Book of Deuteronomy, among other things, contains sermons from Moses in which he entrusts the Decalogue, or Ten Commandments, to the Levite priests to remind and exhort the people in their keeping. Toward the end of the book, we find these words describing God as our Father: “Is not He your father, who created you, who made you and established you? Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and He will show you; your elders, and they will tell you” (Deuteronomy 32:6-7). The Lord God is not only our father in the sense that he created us and gave us life, but is He father in that He also nourishes our souls, gives us guidance, and leads us to perfection by loving us and showing us how to live.

The fatherhood of God is revealed powerfully in the 10 Commandments and their fulfillment in the life of grace in Jesus Christ. By them, we are raised up out of darkness and ignorance into the freedom and perfection of the children of God. “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect,” Jesus commands us with an assurance that we cannot do it on our own. Only God’s supernatural grace will raise our lowly human nature to the heights of supernatural life.

That is very much the beauty of the vocation and responsibility of fatherhood. A good father draws out and perfects the gifts and character and virtues in his children. St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is very much concerned with the domestic and family life of Christians. In it, he echoes this understanding of fatherhood: “‘Honor your father and mother’ (this is the first commandment with a promise), ‘that it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth.’ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:2-4).

I was privileged in May to attend the episcopal consecration of Bishop James Ruggieri, the new bishop of Portland, Maine. I hadn’t attended such a consecration since I was 13 and was present at Burlington Bishop Salvatore Matano’s episcopal ordination in 2005. A striking feature of the prayers as the new bishop is invested with all the signs of his office (crosier, ring, miter, etc.) is their constant reference to the responsibility of drawing the flock of Christ closer and closer to God. A reference to the “burden” of the office of bishop reminds the new bishop that he is ordained a bishop not for himself, but to bring out, encourage, and raise up the potential for holiness in his people. This is what Jesus did, and it is something of the essence of fatherhood. Fatherhood exists not for the good of the father, but for the good of the children. That is why no man is called father until the existence of his children makes him one.

As we prepare for the episcopal ordination of Bishop-elect John McDermott as bishop of Burlington, let us pray for him and his new responsibilities as father and shepherd to this diocese.

And if fatherhood inspires and gives shape to the role of bishop and priest, how much and obviously more so do we also pray and show our love and respect for fathers of families! They are, with their wives, the first and indispensable teachers and models of faith and virtue to their children.

As we celebrate Fathers’ Day in June and Bishop McDermott’s ordination in July, we implore the Holy Spirit to come upon all those He has raised up to be fathers. Let us honor them with a spirit of profound reverence. May they, in their turn, accept the supernatural graces offered to them and lead us all, children of the one father in heaven, to the height of life in Christ.