My brothers and sisters in Christ, let me borrow your voice to express our heartfelt gratitude to our mothers who are so special playing a preponderant role in our lives.
What a beautiful Gospel we have today that reflects some of the good characters and qualities of good Mothers. Jesus used this image of the shepherd to designate Himself, to tell His identity, his relationship to humanity: there is no Jesus without sheep, that is to say without disciples, without humanity. No family without a Mom and no life without a Mom. Jesus does not want our death, on the contrary He says: "I give them eternal life, they will never die". Jesus joined us to give us eternal life. This 'eternal life' transitions with the second aspect of Jesus' identity: His relationship to God the Father. Presence, consolation, strength received, senses enlightened, this is how the Lord leads us.
We give thanks to God for showing us His incarnated Love through our Blessed Mother and our biological mothers and other women (Grandmothers, Aunties, cousins, and adopted mothers) who play the mothers’ role in our lives. We must be gratefully and aware of the fact that none of us is able to return, in the same measure, all the love that our mothers have given us. Their influence on their children is so great that it affects the children throughout their lives. Our mothers not only gave us birth but nursed us, nurtured us, trained us in their religious beliefs and practices, taught us good manners and ideal behavior, disciplined us as best as they could, and made us good citizens of our country, our Church, and our society. Hence, it is highly appropriate for us to express our love and gratitude to our mothers for our presence. We offer this Eucharistic celebration on Mother's Day for all the mothers in our community, whether they are alive here or have gone for their eternal reward. Hence, let us lavish our love on our mothers and express our gratitude for them in the form of fervent prayers offered for them before God.
On this Mother's Day, we have to remember that we have two mothers: our earthly mother and our Heavenly Mother, the Mother of Jesus. The Catholic Church proclaims the great nobility of the Mother of Jesus, Mary Most holy, and presents her as the supreme model for all mothers. On this Mother’s Day, presenting all mothers on the altar, let us sing the beautiful song we sing on the Feast of the Presentation, “Gentle Woman, Peaceful Dove, teach us wisdom, teach us love.” Let us show our love and appreciation for both of our mothers and let us ask our Heavenly Mother to take care of our earthly mothers. We need to be persons for others, sacrificing out time, talents, and lives for them as our mothers are now or have been doing. Thanks all the moms and blessings be upon you all!
Your Pastor,
Father Lucien
Sunday May 8, 2022
