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
