In our faith tradition as Roman Catholics we have the interesting ability to “multi-task” our Worship.  

Today, the 5thSunday of Easter is also Mother’s Day in the United States. It is also the month of May in which we traditionally honor Mary as our Blessed Mother. 

Pope Francis shared a beautiful image for the Blessed Mother and all mothers. I would like to reflect with you on his words this Sunday.

 “The gaze of the Mother, and the gaze of every mother. A world that looks to the future without a mother’s gaze is shortsighted. It may well increase its profits, but it will no longer see others as children. It will make money, but not for everyone. We will all dwell in the same house, but not as brothers and sisters. The human family is built upon mothers. A world in which maternal tenderness is dismissed as mere sentiment may be rich materially, but poor where the future is concerned. Mother of God, teach us to see life as you do. Turn your gaze upon us, upon our misery, our poverty. Turn to us thine eyes of mercy.  Let us allow ourselves to be embraced. From Mary’s gaze, we now turn to her heart, in which, as today’s Gospel recounts, she “treasured all these things and pondered them” (Lk2:19). Our Lady, in other words, took everything to heart; she embraced everything, events both good and bad. And she pondered all these things; she brought them before God. This was her secret. In the same way, she now takes to heart the life of each of us: she wants to embrace our every situation and to present it to God.”

With you a disciple, for you a priest,

Father Anderson

Happy Mother’s Day

Heavenly Father,

From the beginning you have chosen to entrust
the human person to mothers in a special way.

We thank and praise you for the gift of mothers;
for their tenderness, care, and compassion,
for their intuition and encouragement,
for commitment and sacrifice.

Bless all mothers this day.

Keep, strengthen, and refresh them
in your loving care.

May they be blessed by our open-hearted
love and gratitude.

Amen.