The living God who calls us back to our Father’s home is not only a father but also one who, like a mother, brings us to life and loves us tenderly. God invites all of humanity to 'come back home' and be reconciled. God excludes no one from the family home, and as we approach the year 2000, we here in South Africa must examine ourselves and find out whether there are any people in our country who feel excluded at present from our Father’s home.

Is South Africa like a Father’s House?

Like many other countries in the world, South Africa at the present moment is not experienced as a father’s house by many of its inhabitants. There is still a scandalous gap between rich and poor; hundreds of thousands live in shacks and thousands have no stable employment. Violence and fear in the streets and homes abound, and corruption is eating away at our society’s moral fibre.

However, there are signs of hope: our country now has a Constitution that many countries envy. There is a growing acceptance of other cultures in our 'rainbow nation', which had been divided so deeply in the past. For many South Africans, there has been a beginning of a much needed healing process through country-wide initiatives for reconciliation. We can be proud of the structures that have been put in place to protect our human rights and promote land reform. Electricity, water and telephones are much more widely available now, and though we still have a long way to go, there have been improvements in many sectors of our public life. Together with all people of goodwill, we Catholics and all other Christians are called to increase our efforts to turn our country into a true 'Father’s House'.

Despite our best intentions, there are people who feel excluded from our Father’s house. They may be people of other races; they may be women who feel pushed to the edges of God’s family; they may be homosexuals or the divorced. There are people for whom the very word 'Father' means something unhappy, because their own father was abusive or violent, or because they never knew their own father. There are people who feel excluded because of physical or mental disabilities. There may be other persons who feel they do not yet 'belong'. For all these people, God has a fatherly welcome: they can come home where they belong.

The good news is that for all of us, it is possible to repent, which means to return home to our God who is the source of our life. As Jesus told us in the Parable of the Lost Son, the Father is looking out for our return, gazing down the road, waiting for us to appear , a Father who is generous and compassionate, who has 'engraved us on the palm of his hand' . This is the God, both mother and father, whom Jesus knew as 'Abba-Father' , and prayed to with that beautiful and intimate form of address which we use daily in the Lord’s Prayer. To return to that God is to come back to a full life, a life with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, a divine life.

We are called to turn South Africa into 'the Father’s House'

In his letter on The Church in Africa, the concerns of all African bishops who met in Rome in 1994 are expressed and summarised by our Holy Father, John Paul II. He also invited the church on our continent to see herself as 'God’s family. In response to this invitation, we bishops of Southern Africa ask Catholics in each parish to look around them and determine which steps have to be taken in order to turn our Church, continent, country and neighbourhood into a real Father’s House. We would like to make suggestions on four levels.

Firstly, in our Church: Jesus says, 'My father’s House is a house of prayer'. In what ways could we make our liturgy more of an act of prayer that embraces everybody in the worshipping community? How can we insert the faith into our culture, and the culture into our faith? We are still committed to implementing the Pastoral Plan which was launched nearly ten years ago. We have been trying to build up community, but how can we serve humanity?

Secondly, on the continent of Africa: What can be done to support the Pope’s 'pressing appeal' to 'the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank and all foreign creditors to alleviate the crushing debts of the African nations'? Many people are suggesting with the Pope that in the spirit of the Old Testament jubilees the Jubilee Year 2000 should be the occasion for cancelling all foreign debts owed by economically disadvantaged countries in what used to be termed the 'Third World'. We as bishops here in South Africa add our strong voice to this appeal to lift the heavy burden of foreign debts. For Christ says, 'Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest.'

Thirdly, in our country: Since 1999 is an election year, we should each plan to use the vote wisely. To make this country look like the household of God, let us promote a culture of life and not death by upholding the Church’s teaching on the sacred value of human life and our duty to preserve the integrity of our environment.

Fourthly, in your local area: What are the urgent needs? There might be a community without water, a street made unsafe by gang warfare, a dangerous road, a local authority which does not serve the people it represents. Have a look about you and try, even in a very small way, to build the Father’s house wherever you live.

God’s Invitation

To return to the Father means that we must seek, as Jesus did, to construct the reign of God here on earth. It means that we must be like the Father and create a 'family home', in which all are welcome, experiencing the security of a father’s protection and the warmth of a mother’s love. This 'house of many mansions' excludes nobody who is of good will. The loving father of Jesus invites us to build this family house here in South Africa. We all have play our part in this. If we do not accept the invitation, then it will not be built. Let us give an enthusiastic response to God’s invitation, and bring into this work the African and Christian values of care for others, solidarity, warmth in human relationships, acceptance, dialogue and trust. The Father’s hands are open wide: Let us return to our Father’s house; let us return to the One who is the source of Life.

Pretoria, Advent 1998

The Bishops of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference

USING THE LORD’S PRAYER AT MORNING AND EVENING PRAYER

It is an ancient custom of the Church to use this prayer three times a day, in the morning, at Mass and in the evening. The following suggestions are given to help families and individuals to revive this practice as part of our preparation for Jubilee 2000 during this year of the Father.

They could be used as one for each day of the week.

1. Hallowed be your name

   God, our Father, your name is made holy by the witness we give in living out our faith day by day and by doing good even when this is difficult. We ask you to send us your Spirit to make us persevering in holiness and so glorify your name, as we pray with the words Jesus taught us:

   Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
   Your kingdom come,
   Your will be done on earth as in heaven.
   Give us this day our daily bread.
   Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
   Save us from the time of trial
   And deliver us from evil.

   For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

2. Your kingdom come

   Father, we commit ourselves to the share you give us in building your kingdom, a kingdom of peace when we overcome divisions and violence, a kingdom of truth when your gospel is proclaimed, a kingdom of justice when the poor and weak are cared for. Pour out your grace upon us as we call on you to establish your kingdom on earth:

3. Your will be done on earth as in heaven

   Father, your thoughts are not our thoughts and we need your teaching when in doubt and troubled, we need your wisdom when making a choice of life, we need your strength in depression, temptation, sickness and approaching death, we need you to stand close to us in our daily lives, in our homes, in our places of work, in our towns and our rural communities. We wish to place ourselves at your service following the Virgin Mary’s example and so we bring our petition before you with the prayer that Jesus taught us:

4. Give us this day our daily bread

   Father, we thank you for all the gifts that improve the quality of our everyday lives and turn to you with confidence asking that you continue to bless us. Look kindly on your people, may every person have nourishing food, a comfortable and peaceful home, and a just reward for their labours as we call on your fatherly care:

5. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us

   Merciful Father, you sacrificed your Son Jesus to reconcile the world to yourself and sent the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins for you are slow to anger and quick to forgive. Lead us to be forgiving to our neighbour with a sincere heart as we ask for forgiveness for ourselves in the prayer Jesus has given us:

6. Save us from the time of trial

   Father, you call your children to walk in the light of Christ. Free us from all darkness, the desire for evil and the chains of sin and keep us in the radiance of your truth. Do not let us be tested beyond our strength but protect us for we pray as our Saviour has shown us:

7. Deliver us from evil

   Father, through the obedience of Jesus your servant and Son you raised a fallen world. Listen as we repeat the plea he gave us to be freed from sin:

   Our Father in heaven,
   Hallowed by your name,
   Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven.
   Give us today our daily bread.
   Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
   Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.

   Deliver us Lord from every evil and grant us peace in our day.
   In your mercy keep us from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in
   joyful hope for the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

   The kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.