Happy Mother's Day! Good Shepherd Sunday!

Happy Mother's Day!  Good Shepherd Sunday!

Happy Mother’s Day! Good Shepherd Sunday!

There is a beautiful Spanish proverb: "An ounce of mother is better than a pound of clergy." The word “mom” is synonymous with sacrificial love in its purest form as given by Jesus in his farewell speech: "love one another as I have loved you.” Mothers leave a legacy with us. They live in and through us. 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, teach us love.”

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is Good Shepherd Sunday, also known as the “World Day of Prayer for Vocations.” Over the last twelve years, Pope Francis has shepherded the Church. As I write this message, we are praying for the new shepherd. The upcoming Conclave will start on Wednesday, May 7, in the Sistine Chapel to elect the 267th Pope. I am hoping that we will have a Pope before this Sunday. Let us pray for the Cardinals and for the future Pope. We may not know who is, but the Holy Spirit already knows who will be the next Pope. On this Good Shepherd Sunday, let us pray for Bishop Powers, all bishops, priests, religious, deacons, and seminarians. We already pray for a vacation. We were reminded of the need to pray for vocations on World Day of Prayer for Vocations.

Every year on the fourth Sunday of Easter, we reflect on the image of Jesus, our eternal good shepherd, who cares for his flock. In the responsorial psalm (100:3), we repeat “We are his people, the sheep of his flock.” In the Gospel, Jesus says, “No one can take them out of my hand” John 10:29. The Israelites were very familiar with shepherding. Jesus said, “My sheep will hear my voice” (John 10:27). They could picture a sheep listening to the shepherd's voice. Jesus is our eternal shepherd who laid down his life for us.

The Mass: During Lent, we were learning the meaning of Mass in depth. Before Holy Week, we reflected on the Liturgy of the Word. The second half of the Mass is called the Liturgy of the Eucharist, beginning with the Offertory, which involves the Preparation of the Altar and the Presentation of the Gifts (bread and wine). This part of the Mass is rich with symbolic actions and prayers that emphasize the sacrificial nature of the Mass, not just its role as a meal. Key actions include setting up the altar (e.g., laying out the corporal, preparing the chalice, placing the missal), and presenting gifts, either by the priest or through a procession by the faithful—a recommended but not required tradition. Additional Offertory signs include mixing water and wine and washing the priest’s hands, signifying purification. Many prayers are said during this time, some aloud and others quietly, depending on whether music is present. These prayers deepen the understanding that the Mass is a Holy Sacrifice.

The Offertory during the Catholic Mass highlights both the spoken prayers and the quiet, "secret" prayers said by the priest over the bread and wine. These include blessings like “Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation…”, with the congregation responding, “Blessed be God forever.” It also covers the priest's quiet, personal prayers, such as “Wash me, O Lord…” and “May our  sacrifice be acceptable…”

The text then explores why these rituals matter, emphasizing that they express the sacrificial nature of the Mass, not just as a meal but as a liturgical offering. Dr. Brant Pitre explains the Old Testament connection and the Jewish roots of the Mass. There is both biblical and Jewish traditions, especially the story of Melchizedek in Genesis, who offered bread and wine as a priestly, unbloody sacrifice. Other Old Testament references (e.g., Numbers 15, Leviticus 17) also show the people bringing grain and wine offerings to the priests, reflecting the early Jewish foundations of the Offertory. These were signs of their own offering of themselves to God. The Mass mirrors this: bread and wine aren’t just "items" but stand-ins for our lives, labor, and ultimately, hearts.

Exodus 30 is explicit: the priest must wash hands and feet before offering sacrifice—“lest he die.” In the Mass, the priest’s hand-washing is not just practical, but theological and liturgical. It symbolizes the need for interior purity before standing in God’s  presence to offer the Eucharistic sacrifice.

Secret Prayers = Mystical Participation in Scriptural Prayers. Azariah’s prayer (Daniel 3) emphasizes inner contrition and self-offering, a “living sacrifice.” David’s prayer (Psalm 51) is about penitence and cleansing. Together, these prayers reflect the dual attitude required in offering: humble surrender and penitent purity.

The Offertory is a pivotal part of the Mass that highlights its sacrificial nature. Over the centuries, these prayers have been formed and used in their current form. During the Council of Trent, the people’s response was delegated to the altar server, diminishing the laity’s active verbal participation—until it was restored after Vatican II, reflecting its original communal intention.

This prayer emphasizes the dual yet unified sacrifice: that of the priest offering the Eucharist, and the people offering themselves—their work, sufferings, and lives—in union with Christ. This unity is symbolized in ancient rituals like the mingling of water and wine, which early theologians like St. Cyprian interpreted as the union of Christ (wine) and the Church (water). Similarly, Amalar of Metz in the 9th century described these outward signs as reflections of inner spiritual realities, such as purification and heartfelt offering.

Ultimately, the Offertory is not just preparation for Communion but a moment when the whole Church—head and members—participates in Christ’s self-offering, making the Mass a sacrifice as well as a sacrament. The faithful are called not just to    receive but also to offer themselves, making the Mass a full, active, conscious participation in Christ’s redemptive act.