On this Mother's Day, we thank all the mothers of our parish for revealing the face of God to us in their love for us.

 

Sixth Sunday of Easter  2021  B

 

This Sunday’s Gospel is the vision statement of the mission and ministry of Jesus: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you.”  If we truly “get” this one statement – “As the Father loves me, so I also love you” – then we have understood the primary Gospel message.

Look back in the Gospels and see for yourself.  All of the great stories Jesus ever told – the Prodigal Son, the Good Samaritan, the woman caught in adultery, the washing of the feet, the cleansing of the lepers, the curing of the blind and the lame – all of these tell the same single tale:  Each of us is graciously, eternally and infinitely loved by God.

As a result of this boundless love relationship that Jesus offers to each of us, he makes only one single request – the very same one he gave to his disciples: “This I command you:  love one another.”

What are the love stories of your life?  In your family life, with the love you share with your spouse, with the love you share with your children and grandchildren, does this not make you more aware of how your life is blessed?  The family is the school of love.  The love you receive in your family life is a precious, precious gift.  Equally the love you give to your family makes you a better person. 

On this Mother’s Day, we thank all the mothers of our parish community for revealing the face of God to us in their love for us.  Their love for us reveal the mystery of God’s love.

For myself, grounded in my mother’s love, I have experienced the love story of my priestly ministry.  Recently this past week, I presided at six funeral liturgies, been involved with families in baptismal and First Communion preparation, anointed and gave communion to older parishioners, baptized twin boys, and had an enjoyable dinner in the home of parishioners.  In all honesty for me, this is a privilege and part of the love story of my priestly ministry.  It is not too much work.  It is the commitment of my life.

My sense it is the same for you as parents.  Giving yourself in love to your children, to your grandchildren is not too much work.  It is the joy of your life.

 

The Gospel message for all of us that the love that is within us is to be shared with all.  This means everyone on the face of the earth is your brother and sister.  The love you and I give to our blood family.  We are to share with our human family.

Now, you can tell me, that this sounds nice, but you’re not living on planet earth if you expect me to share my love with everyone.

Yet, the command of the Lord to us is simple and direct:  Love one another.  Period.  End of story.

In today’s Gospel, we are given a sitting at the Last Supper.  As the Gospel is taken from the conversation Jesus had with the apostles on the night before He died.  I remind you of three actions of Jesus at the Last Supper that reveal the entirety of the Gospel.

            --the institution of the Eucharistic mystery in which bread and wine became the Body and Blood of Christ Himself.  We are a Eucharistic community who give thanks to the Lord our God and are fed and nourished at the Table of the Lord.

            --Jesus washed the feet of his disciples to give us an example that we are to do likewise.  We are to wash the feet of God’s poor and we are to serve one another following the example of Jesus who came to serve and not to be served.

 

            --Thirdly, Jesus spoke those words to us: “As the Father loves me, so I love you.”  Plain and simple, we are God’s beloved.  May we know and experience the love of God each and every day.  As God’s beloved sons and daughters, we are told in the commandment given to us is that we are to share what we have been given.

Isn’t it a joy to know that the most enjoyable mystery of life – love – is the only commandment of Jesus?  That shows that God is on our side.  His commandment is to do what we want most to do and experience – to love and be loved.

Jesus’ was to lay down his life, in a specific way.  Our love lays down our life often in small, forgettable ways. 

 

Faithful to what the Lord is asking of us what loving actions can we do today to serve and love others?  For example, the hours we spend with a sick child or a parent, years caring for someone ill, or giving up something for your children.

So, in our spiritual awareness examen we can ask ourselves:

Will the members of your family hear words of love that you speak today?

Will I speak words of love to the parishioners in need on this day?

What words of love can we speak to the needy and the poor in our midst?  Do the poor in our midst hear words of love being spoken to them by the faith community of St Joseph’s?

Further, there is no need for us to strive to be perfect.  Rather, let people be inspired by God’s love for you, even though all of us have our share of imperfections.  Jesus does not expect us to be perfect.  However, he does expect us to love.

I conclude with the wisdom of the great spiritual writer Jean Vanier:

Jesus says to you, I love you, and I want you to love each other.  I want you to kind to them the way I am kind.  I want you to care for them, the way I care for them.  I want you to be with them when they need you, as I am with you when you need me.

I want you to cherish them.  I want you to sacrifice for them, as I sacrifice for you.  Even if you must give up your life for them, I want you to do this, so that you might know my joy.

My joy is full by being with you, being part of your lives, being as close as a vine is to the branches, to live your life  with you, and hope that you will live my life with each other.

Then, if you do this, all people will know that the Son of God has come, and he has come with the Father, and the Father has come to bring peace and joy and hope to all peoples.

 

Have a Blessed Day.