Each year on this Sixth Sunday of Easter, the readings begin to prepare us for Pentecost by showing the Holy Spirit working through the leaders of the early church. Today, Saint Peter tells us that, even though Jesus had made him earthly head of the church, Peter too is just beginning to understand the surprising ways in which God intends the community to grow. Saint John, in both his First Letter and the Gospel, reminds us that Jesus’ great commandment is that we love one another. Only when we love one another, as Jesus both taught us and showed us, are we truly friends.
Contrary to popular belief, Mother’s Day was not conceived and fine-tuned in the boardroom of Hallmark. The earliest tributes to mothers date back to the annual spring festival the Greeks dedicated to Rhea, the mother of many deities, and to the offerings ancient Romans made to their Great Mother of Gods, Cybele. Christians celebrated this festival on the Fourth Sunday of Lent in honor of Mary, Mother of Christ. In England this holiday was expanded to include all mothers and was called Mothering Sunday. In the United States, Mother’s Day started nearly 150 years ago, when Anna Jarvis, an Appalachian homemaker, organized a day to raise awareness of poor health conditions in her community, a cause she believed would be best advocated by mothers. She called it “Mother’s Work Day.” In 1914 Woodrow Wilson signed a bill recognizing Mother’s Day as a national holiday. Mother’s Day has flourished in the United States. In fact, the second Sunday in May had become the most popular day of the year to dine out, and telephone lines recorded their highest traffic, as sons and daughters everywhere take advantage of this day to honor and to express appreciation of their mothers. I wish all mothers a very joyous Mother’s Day!
May is the month when Catholics traditionally focus on Mary, the Mother of Jesus. The practice dates back at least 700 years and is still observed around the world today. May is seen as the beginning of new life and the start of summer, which makes this a logical time for celebrations of Mary, who brought life to the world…In the sanctuary this weekend you will notice a beautiful statue of Mary in the midst of the flowers. This statue is from the former Saint Gilbert Church in Hunker. We are appreciative to the anonymous donor who had the statue refurbished. Remember. O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that any one who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession was left unaided.
Our Responsorial Psalm this week, "The Lord had revealed to the nations his saving power," invites us to give thanks for the ways that God saves us daily."
