Friday, May 12, 2017

Mother's Day Homily


A Tribute to Our Heavenly Mother and all Mothers

A reflection for Mother’s Day May 14, 2017

By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFM

Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus

Order Franciscans of Mercy




 

 

 

The Mother's Day holiday in the United States, celebrates motherhood generally and the wonderful contributions of all mothers and women to society.

It is the result of a campaign by Anna Marie Jarvis who, following the death of her mother on May 9, 1905, devoted her life to establishing Mother's Day as a national, and later an international, holiday.

Throughout all of history, mothers have played one of the most important roles in society. There is an old adage that “Behind every successful man there is a woman” and this is an adage that holds true almost every time, that woman is usually the man’s mother.

We know from scripture that Jesus’ mother was often in his company and suffered with him because of the rejection and ultimately the crucifixion of her beloved son. With His last breath, Christ symbolically gave His mother to all of us with these words “Woman, behold, your son! Son, Behold, your mother!”(John 19:25-27)

Mary was the catalyst for the first recorded miracle of Jesus at the wedding feast of Cana. Mary and the other women discovered that Christ has risen from the dead. It is Our Blessed Mother that often is the bearer of messages to the world from Her son and Almighty God.

Mary’s appearances at Lourdes, Fatima, Guadalupe, Mejigore, and to Saint Catherine Laboure’ to whom the Blessed Mother displayed herself inside an oval frame, standing upon a globe, wearing many rings of different colors, most of which shone rays of light over the globe and around the margin of the frame appeared the words O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

Just as Our Heavenly Mother Mary had and still has an important place in the Christian life, so to do all mothers have an important role in the future of society. The mother nourishes the child from inception to adult hood and beyond.  Mothers are the first educators, set the moral guidelines and often teach the first prayers and instill a love and devotion to God.

It was 30 years ago this week, May 5th 1987, three days before Mother’s Day, that a beautiful woman by the name of Elizabeth was called home to Almighty God. 

She did not become famous, never made headlines, if anything her life was very simple. 

Born in Ireland in 1906 her early years were anything but wonderful. She lived in fear of the British troops who roamed her country.  When she was only 5 years old, she watched in horror as her mother died in childbirth while her father and uncle were arguing, drunk, in an adjoining room. Shortly after that, her father left her with another uncle and aunt while he went off to America in search of a better life. The Aunt, according to the stories told, mistreated little Elizabeth to the point she ran away to another uncle who took her in and lived with along with his young son Willie until 1913, when word came for her to come to America. She remembers arriving at Ellis Island frightened and amazed, as she gazed from the gangplank at the enormous glowing statue of a woman holding a torch on the base of which was inscribed the words “Give me your tired and your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free”

In 1929, while working in a drug store, a handsome man, Bob, who was working days as a welder and nights as a singer in the Keith Vaudeville Circuit and studying law, spotted her.  

They got married in September 1930 but life was not to be a “Happy Ever After” of the storybooks.  Bob had a drinking problem and it caused many arguments as it often does but Betty had faith and hung in there.

Through all her life’s problems, she never gave up her faith in Almighty God and had a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother Mary. A devotion she passed on to her son, yours truly.

The life of Elizabeth is just a regular life, it is a life that millions of woman happily do every day. They are the woman who we celebrate on Mother’s Day.

My Mother and many other mothers emulate the role Our Blessed Mother gave and they, through the years, followed in Our Lady’s footsteps, giving of themselves for their children and spouses.

I know that Elizabeth is in the company of Our Blessed Mother and our Redeemer Jesus Christ and that Bob my father is serenading Almighty God and all the heavenly elect with his magnificent tenor voice while Elizabeth sits proudly and appreciatively as she did every time he sang.

Since my Mom had two miscarriages before I arrived, she could never understand how anyone could end the gift of life and the opportunity to be a mother.  Women are more compassionate, nurturing and forgiving than most men. If women were given a greater role in the activities of the church, we might not have had the problems we have been facing in recent years.

If women were allowed to be deacons or priests we probably would not have a shortage of priests and the church would be more nurturing towards individuals seeking the love of God.

Mothers are less likely to reject a child because of their sexual orientation.  

In short, on this Mother’s Day we need to celebrate ALL Women, Mothers, Grandmothers, mothers to be, woman who may never be mothers, All Woman, for without woman, there would be no men.

 Without Our Blessed Mother, Jesus would not have been.

This weekend, let us give woman the credit they deserve, let us try to do something special for all woman in our life. Let us make this a celebration for all women for the contributions that they have played in forming not only the Judea/Christian and other Religious faiths but also History in general.

Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers, your children are a gift; never let them feel unloved or unwanted. God created them and gave them to you to cherish. Protect them as best as possible, give them strong love and knowledge of how to love, forgive, and know and serve God.

Love can conquer all adversity as the story of Elizabeth and Bob can illustrate, their love was stronger than any adversity they faced.
Just as God’s love is stronger than any adversity any of us may face. AMEN

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