Dear Friends
Given the movable nature of the date of Easter, it is quite unusual for the 4th Sunday of Easter – traditionally
Good Shepherd Sunday and
World Day of Prayer for Vocations – to coincide with Mother’s Day. While the title ‘shepherd’ has a male connotation, it should not be difficult for us to recognise the qualities of the ‘shepherd’ in both Mums and Dads, and in many others who show us extraordinary care.
Gratitude for Mothers - In our Easter readings recalling the appearances of the Risen Jesus, the women disciples who followed Jesus faithfully to the end are very prominent, especially in the accounts of the appearances of Jesus after his death. These women are the first believers in his Resurrection, the ones who told the news to the apostles – their testimony not given much credit by the men – yet the women are in fact
‘the apostles to the apostles’!
In our Society and Church, there is much discussion and debate over the role of women, yet the pivotal role of mothers remains undisputed, their special nurturing qualities, and their place in passing on the Faith and, with fathers, encouraging sons and daughters and grandchildren too to find their way in the world and follow the call in their hearts.
Following our Call – Today we are asked to pray to God that he ‘
send more workers into the harvest,’ presumably as religious sisters and brothers, deacons and priests – a very important message. However, let’s remember that prayer changes us and very little will happen unless families cultivate faith and positively encourage members to embrace a religious vocation. Mums and Dads are good at that but in our time some are reticent in raising the subject, given our present struggles as Church.
Mothers are invariably models of faithfulness and perseverance in serving the family and understanding the unique, personal gifts and hopes of each child. While respecting the freedom of each, parents need to feel free to offer a ‘prompt’ to children to challenge them to ‘dream the dream’ that the Lord has for each. Pope Francis emphasises Joy in the Love that holds family life together and he offers the maternal faith of Mary Mother of Jesus as our inspiration:
‘This maternal gaze, which instils confidence and trust, helps us to grow in faith. Faith is a bond with God that engages the whole person; to be preserved, it needs the Mother of God. Her maternal gaze helps us see ourselves as beloved children in God’s faithful people, and to love one another regardless of our individual limitations and approaches. Our Lady keeps us faithful in the Church, where unity counts more than diversity; she encourages us to care for one another. Mary’s gaze reminds us that faith demands a tenderness that can save us from becoming lukewarm. Tenderness: the Church of tenderness…. When faith makes a place for the Mother of God, we never lose sight of the centre: the Lord, for Mary never points to herself but to Jesus; and our brothers and sisters, for Mary is mother.’
As we honour our mothers, living and deceased, we affirm the remarkable call of motherhood and the ways in which each of us has been given life and formed in the likeness of God through the love of parents and the unique role of our mothers. While this may not be the experience of all, we give thanks for the positive influences of those people who formed us…. And let us pray that each of us will continue to pray and listen to our personal call.