ONE of my happy memories in Sarawak is sitting with people on the veranda of the longhouse awaiting the birth of a baby.
The women, like busy bees, taking care that all goes well, and the men chatting away while waiting for the first cry, to assure them that all went well. A community event. Like everywhere in the world, babies are born without any worry about life, food or drink. Their smallest cry rushes people in to help. This is God’s care:
“Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.” Matthew 6:25-34
The basic tenet of this teaching is what scripture tells us: “We belong to God, he cares for us”.
Allow me to take this as a background for the parable of the prodigal family. Two sons, two types of people… The one living in the comfort of the family home, the other, bored with everyday life at home, ventures out. However, the incredible generosity of the father provides for both, “for all that is mine is yours”, he says. He even pays for the escapades of the younger one.
There comes a moment in life when, maybe in anticipation of “the final judgment when God will give his final verdict”, we begin to judge ourselves. Those who identify with the younger one, begin to realize how they have wasted their father’s love outside the protection of the “home” – kingdom, church, heaven – thus, they begin to long for “going back home”.
The other one, seeing the love of the father for his brother, realizes at that moment, that he had missed out on the father’s embrace because his life was centred around obedience and hard work. Ultimately, both come to understand Jesus’ teaching about what God cares for; namely, “what was dead comes to life, and what was lost, will be found.” Matthew 15:31-32
Everyone is invited to the embrace of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, so beautifully painted by Rembrandt. Do I long for this embrace? Do I make this explicitly part of my relationship with God? Remember, prayer is not so much expressed by beautiful words, recitations, novenas or theological thoughts, but by a desire from the heart. “Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” Matthew 18:2. Only child-like prayer sets us free from worry and anxiety about life and tomorrow.
Let me finish with this story when I was a kid. When I had done something bad, I would sit looking out of the window to see when dad would come home, so I could rush to tell him before my mother could report me. Dad was always too happy to hug me and thus, I would not get the punishment I deserved.
Questions:
- With which of the sons can I identify most?
- How does “home care” challenge me?
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Fr Guido Gockel MHM
A member of St Joseph’s Missionary Society of Mill Hill, headquartered near London, Father Guido was ordained a priest in 1969. Shortly after ordination, he was sent to Malaysia (Sarawak) where he served as a missionary for 18 years.
While on a vacation to Sabah, he was introduced to a group of young people who had become involved in the Charismatic Movement (CCR). This experience helped him to be instrumental in introducing CCR to Miri, Sarawak, where he was assigned to a mission outpost.
Since his first missionary stint of seven years in the early 70’s, he has been back to Malaysia three more postings, and numerous short visits. He has acquired a basic knowledge of “Melayu pasar” and other languages of Sarawak
Catholic Sabah has the privilege of being acquainted with Fr Guido, who has been generous in giving his time to write for a year under the column titled “I’m on My Way” since the launching of the Catholic Sabah online portal in 2020.
With a little encouragement, Fr Guido has agreed to continue to write, and thus Catholic Sabah decided to upload his writings, once every month, in both English and Bahasa Melayu. Father is open to questions, to offer further discussion/explanation. He can be reached through email or whatsapp @ frguidomhm@gmail.com.
