Gospel: John 10:11-18
The 4th Sunday if Easter is also known as Good Shepherd Sunday.
This year it also happens to be Mother’s Day in the United States.
You might think there is some incongruity here but really both celebrations fit hand in glove.
Jesus is our Good Shepherd who told His Apostles He would lay down His life for His sheep. Would not most Mothers give their lives for their children? We have seen this happen in recent tragedies in Gaza where a Mother has covered her 23-day old infant with her body to protect him from the bombing. The child survived; she did not.
In the first reading today, Paul urged his followers in Antioch “to remain faithful to the grace of God…and the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.” Our Mothers would encourage us to do the same. Many Mothers pray daily for the grace of their wayward children to return to the Church and to their families.
In the Book of Revelation, it is stated, “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress.” Obviously, Jesus survived His time of great distress through His sufferings and death on the Cross but came to the glory of the Resurrection. Our Mothers have survived times of great distress such as worries about their children, illness, financial concerns, and just everyday matters in life.
In the Gospel of John, we read, “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand.” Can you imagine anyone trying to take you out of your Mother’s hand? The Lioness would fight tooth and nail to protect you.
If our Mothers are so good to us, can we expect any less from our Father in Heaven?
God bless all Mother, Grandmothers, Great Grandmothers, God Mothers, Step Mothers, and all who take the role of Mothers, today and every day!
Sister Mary Joan Jacobs, CSFN
