Welcomed and Loved
My father was the son of a tenant farmer
in Korea. Both of his parents died young – his mother passed away when he was
in elementary school, and his father died while he was in high school. His
family was poor and uneducated. As a middle child – the third of five children,
he was often neglected. His biological family did not care much for him.
But by the grace of God, he was welcomed and loved by the Methodist church in town. When he was in middle school, a new pastor was appointed there. The pastor basically adopted my dad, empowering him and investing in him. He became my dad’s mentor, his role model and later, his father-in-law.
At the Beautiful Gate
If we were to describe the crippled
beggar in today’s passage with one word, it might be “hopeless” or “powerless.”
The Scripture tells us he was lame from birth (v. 2) – literally, “from his
mother’s womb.” He was carried to the temple every day, so he could beg from those
going in. He was over forty years old (v. 22). He survived one day at a time.
The gate where this man was placed was called the Beautiful Gate. Jewish historian Josephus said it “greatly excelled those that were only covered over with silver and gold.”[1] The gate was about 75 feet tall with huge double doors. Pilgrims came and went, impressed by the grandeur of the temple and its gates. But at the foot of this magnificent entrance sat a man begging. For him, life was not beautiful. It was just another day.
That afternoon, Peter and John were going up to the temple to pray. The crippled man asked them for what he thought he needed most – money. But moved by compassion and the Holy Spirit, Peter saw his real need – healing and salvation. So he said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.” And he took him by the hand and helped him up.
Then something amazing happened. This man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk. Walking, jumping, and praising God. And most importantly, for the first time, he entered the temple. Over 40 years, this man always sat outside the temple, but today, he entered the temple as a new creation.
I believe many of us are here today because someone once took us by the hand and helped us up. We are who we are today because someone believed in us, invested in us, led us to faith.
My “Someone”
For me, one of those people is my
father. Because he didn’t receive much love growing up, he struggled to express
love. He was always sparing with his praise and encouragement. When I was
young, it was hard to be close to him. But looking back, now I see that he did
his best.
What I am most grateful for is his “faithfulness.” He was faithful to our family. Whenever I needed him, he was always there. He was also faithful to his church as a pastor. There was a time when things got really hard. And I said to him, “Dad, let’s move on.” But he answered, “Son, we can’t just abandon the flock. This is when they need us most. If we move, it will be when things are better.” He stayed the course. He served that church for 30 years and retired while the church was still growing. Today, under a new pastor, it continues to grow.
From my father, I learned to “abide” where I am planted. And more than anything, I’m thankful to my parents for passing on a spiritual inheritance – a living faith. They didn’t just teach the Bible; they lived it. For that, I am eternally grateful.
Our Story
Some of us had wonderful fathers.
Some had absent or even hurtful ones. But whether or not we had the best earthly dad, we all have a best and perfect
Father. Abba Father. And
along the way, our Heavenly Father often sends people in our lives—father-figures,
mentors, spiritual guides—to help lead us home.
One man who lived this journey was Saint Augustine. He was born in North Africa in the 4th century. His father, Patricius, was a Roman official. He worked hard to support Augustine’s education and success. But Patricius was not a believer for most of his life. He wasn’t concerned with Augustine’s soul—only his success. He once boasted to others about his son's cleverness with words, not about his character. In his book Confessions, Augustine later wrote: "My father had no concern as to how I grew in Your sight, so long as I was clever with words." (Book 2)
Though he achieved much, Augustine was restless inside, searching, empty. He chased knowledge, pleasure, and praise—but nothing satisfied his soul. Then, in his early 30s, after years of spiritual struggle, he opened the Scriptures and met the living Christ. He cried out to God in repentance. He was baptized. His life was changed. He confessed, “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.” (Confessions, Book 1) Augustine had found his true Father, Abba Father.
Even before his conversion, God was already sending father-figures into Augustine’s life. One of them was Ambrose, the Bishop of Milan – a wise and godly man. Augustine didn’t just listen to Ambrose’s sermons –he watched his life. He wrote: "I began to love him... as a man who was kind to me." (Confessions, Book 5) Ambrose saw something in Augustine. He welcomed him, answered questions, prayed for him, and walked patiently with him. Over time, Augustine became the man we remember today.
Lending A hand
We don’t get to choose our earthly
fathers. Some of us were blessed; others wounded. But here is the good news: We all have a Heavenly Father, whose love
never fails. And this Father is still at work— sending people into our
lives. A mentor. A teacher. A pastor. A friend. Someone who reflects the
Father’s love to us.
So today, on this Father’s Day, let us give thanks to God for the fathers who tried—even if imperfect. Let us run to Abba Father, who loves us unconditionally. And let us be spiritual fathers and mothers to others—especially to the next generation.
In today’s scripture, “the power was Christ’s, but the hand was Peter’s.”[2] May we be that hand – reaching out to those who are searching.
Let me close with the words of Teresa of Avila:
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
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