Mother's Day 2007

The 6th Sunday of Easter
Today’s Readings: [Click here]

All across our land, people are celebrating Mother’s Day today. It’s a joy to welcome so many mothers from our parish; it’s especially nice that you can be surrounded today by your family. We bless you all and pray for you!

And for those of us whose mothers have gone home to God, we lovingly remember them and pray for them on this special day.

If your Mom lives far away and you can’t be together, at least call on the phone. You’ll really love the excitement in her voice when she accepts the charges.

I think my favorite Mother’s Day story comes from Erma Bombeck. She once wrote how she had to stay in bed while her husband and kids fixed breakfast for her. She said she heard the dog bark, and then one of the older children shouted, “Hey! Get his paws out of there. Mom has to eat that!”

Yeah: you mothers have to put up with a lot. But hopefully all the grief and frustrations are worth it when your children give you a hug and tell you they love you… or when they grow up to be pretty darn nice people and make you proud.

You may remember that one of the really nice descriptions of the family is the “domestic church”—in other words, the church at home. This is the “church church”; you’ve got the “domestic church.” And in this little church of yours, you mothers are right up there—top management. In my house, Maggie is the highest ranking woman; she’s a cardinal.

During this Easter season, we’ve been hearing a lot of readings from the Acts of the Apostles—that book of the bible that talks about the beginnings of the church. I thought that these texts, including today’s reading, are actually pretty insightful for mothers trying to steer their domestic churches.

We’ve been hearing how Paul and Barnabas brought the good news of Jesus Christ to people who never heard it before and were instructing them in the faith. You mothers do exactly the same when you teach your children about God! You teach them how to pray, how to celebrate many wonderful religious customs, how to love God and please him… and sometimes, you even get to share some of this with your children’s friends who may not learn it in their own homes.

Acts goes on to explain how the apostles strengthened the spirits of the disciples and encouraged them to persevere in the faith—reminding them that sometimes people have to endure troubles and trials in this life on the way to heaven. Don’t mothers have to do the same thing—constantly? How many times do you have to encourage your family and comfort them when things go wrong? You dry tears and turn a lot of frowns upside down. What a beautiful ministry of God, to bring joy and the courage to go on, to those you love!

And I love it how today’s text says: “It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond” the most necessary things. Isn’t that just like a loving mother to do everything she can to lift up her children and make life as sweet as possible? In fact, last week, we read that Paul and Barnabas prayed and fasted for the people. Another wonderful parallel! What mother is there who doesn’t pray for her children—that God may protect them, watch over them, heal them, bless them and help them in so many different ways? What mother doesn’t make sacrifices for her kids—from staying up all night with a sick child to taking the food out of her own mouth to feed her hungry ones?

And then, of course, Acts continues by telling how Paul and his companions traveled all over the Mediterranean—from city to city, port to port—sometimes under the most difficult and exhausting conditions—to further their mission. You mothers hardly do less! Many of you rush all over God’s green earth running errands, taking the kids shopping, driving them to sports meets and games, dance recitals, 4H shows—you name it—all in the name of love.

Yes, your domestic church is every bit as much work—and maybe even more—than this church.

I think it’s a beautiful thing to remember, especially on Mother’s Day, that God is with you. Just the way the Lord is the “big boss” of our church, he’s also the big boss of the domestic church. He’s Our Father in heaven who loves us so much… created us in all in love just the way he wanted us… and will keep his loving eyes on us and his angels with us every moment of every day as long as we live.

In a special way, he has also given us the Blessed Virgin Mary to watch over us and help us from heaven. You’ve heard her exquisite titles in the church’s beloved litanies. Think about some of them today, on Mother’s Day—and especially when you could use a little heavenly aid: Mother of divine grace… Mother most pure… Dearest of mothers… Model of motherhood… Mother of good counsel… Virgin most wise… Virgin most powerful… Virgin gentle in mercy… Comfort of the troubled… Cause of our joy… Queen of peace…

God did not make his apostles or his popes or his bishops or his cardinals or any of his church leaders perfect. He didn’t give any of them an easy road. And it’s exactly the same with mothers.

Don’t beat yourself up for your weaknesses, but put your problems and yourself in God’s hands to draw strength and power from him. You be the glove; let him be the hand that slips inside to make everything work.

That is his plan—his perfect plan… a plan that takes you to carry out.

May God bless you always and fill all our mothers with his abundant grace. Amen.