HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

​Happy Mother’s Day!
    An Indian poet says in one of the poems, mother never dies. He says a mother gives her blood to her children when they are in the womb, and when they are born through breastfeeding those mothers share their life. Mothers live through their children. We pray on this Mothers’ Day, for all our mothers, whether they are alive or have gone to their eternal reward. Let us thank God for all mothers, stepmothers, foster    mothers and all those who are like mothers, let us offer them at the altar and ask God's abundant blessing upon them. Happy Mother’s Day!
    On Mother’s Day, let us Christians acknowledge the truth that we have two mothers: our earthly mother and our heavenly mother, Mary, 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. She was born into humble surroundings, she was called by God to be the mother of the Son of God. She affirmed her obedience to the call of God and lived out her vocation throughout her entire life. Mary, the mother of Jesus, our Blessed Mother, is the true model of motherhood.
    The month of May is traditionally the month of Mary. Through Mary, the work of Motherhood is glorified and sanctified. 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, and teach us love.” This year Pope Francis invites us to join with him the entire month of May to pray the Rosary for the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Let us join Pope Francis and pray for the whole world.
    Last weekend we reflected on the vine and the branches from the Gospel of John 15. This weekend we have a continuation of the Gospel of John 15 emphasizing the commandment of love and inviting us to remain in, abide, and dwell in his love.
    This passage is from the Last Supper discourse. Jesus tells them over and over this message because he knows how tough things going to be. Jesus looks at the Good Friday and preparing for that moment. Jesus told them they were called to love, joy, and called to friendship. The promise of intimacy with Jesus is conditional because Jesus demands us to keep his commandment and remain in his love. The fullest expression of love consists in pouring out our lives to God as Jesus did on the cross.
    Jesus told them, “I have called you friends.” In the Old Testament often called a servant. Deuteronomy 34:5 “So there, in the land of Moab, Moses, the servant of the LORD, died as the LORD had said.” Psalm 89:21, “I have chosen David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him.” We see an exception in 2 Chronicles 20:7, “Was it not you, our God, who dispossessed the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and gave it forever to the descendants of Abraham, your friend?” In the Gospel, Jesus told them that they are friends because among friends there is a mutual sharing.
    In the first reading, we see a struggle of early Church. The questions were raised in the early church, who can receive baptism, do they have to be circumcised, and so on. In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, while Apostle Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on them. Then Peter raised a question, “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit even as we have?” Then Peter ordered and they received the baptism in the name of Jesus Christ. The spirit of love unified them and everyone embraced the faith.
    The second reading tells that God is love. In the first letter of John tells us “God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him.” Love incarnated and invites us to remain in his love.
 
Let us remain his love!