A Tribute to All Mothers

A Tribute to all Mothers and Our Blessed Mother
A reflection for Mother’s Day 2012 By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD
Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus/Franciscans of Divine Mercy
www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
www.missionstsergius.org

The Mother's observed this Sunday May 13th 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. Her 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 Marie, conçue sans pêché, priez pour nous qui avons recours à vous, in English 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.
Twenty-five years ago, May 5th 1987, three days before Mother’s Day, 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.
Elizabeth 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.
The life of Elizabeth is just a regular life; it is a life that millions of women happily do every day. They are the woman we celebrate on Mother’s Day.
My Mother and many other mothers emulate the role Our Blessed Mother 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.
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 Mothers 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

God's Love is Infinite

God’s Love for All People is Infinite
A Reflection for the Sixth Sunday of Easter 2012
Based on the readings from; Acts 10:25-26, 34-35,44-48; 1 John 4:7-10, John 15:9-17
By Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD, Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
National Catholic Church of America
www.franciscansdivinemercy.org
www.missionstsergious.org

“The truth I have now come to realize’ he said ‘is that God does not have favorites, but that anybody of any nationality who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to him.” These words attributed to St. Peter and taken from the first reading for this Sunday should bring comfort and exaltation to all who read or hear them. When we couple them with these following words from the second reading and the Gospel, we have complete affirmation of God’s infinite love for every one of His children regardless of their race, nationality, creed or sexual orientation. “My dear people let us love one another since love comes from God and everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Anyone who fails to love can never have known God, because God is love.” In addition “My dear people, since God has loved us so much, we too should love one another. No one has ever seen God; but as long as we love one another, God will live in us and his love will be complete in us. We can know that we are living in him and he is living in us because he lets us share his Spirit.”
These words from the Gospel attributed to Jesus Christ strengthen the message even more; “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy is complete. This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you.”…. “I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father. You did not choose me: no, I chose you; and I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last; and then the Father will give you anything you ask him in my name. What I command you is to love one another.’
On December 25th 2005 Pope Benedict XVI issued his first encyclical as the new pope, entitled DEUS CARITAS EST which in Latin means God is Love.
It matters not what Christian denomination you belong to or for that matter what religion, the main message we need to hold deep within us is GOD IS LOVE and His love is infinite.
The readings of this week are again a reminder to us of that main fact of the Christian faith. We need to keep this message always in our hearts especially when people are berating us or when we are made to suffer from discrimination or bigotry. Any person who does not love as Christ called us to do for one another is not a real or true Christian.
God’s infinite and unlimited love is for every person on the face of the earth who calls to him seeking his mercy for their transgressions, seeking His relief from their pain and suffering or just giving Him the honor and praise He deserves or seeking to partake of the sacramental gifts.
The only requirement that is made of us is that we keep His commandments and when Christ was asked what are the most important commandments he replied “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:29-31).
Throughout the years since Christ taught the apostles and the Christian faith evolved from the Jewish faith because of Christ who told us He came to clarify or establish a new COVENANT between God and His children. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:16-18). Christ was the sacrificial lamb of the new covenant and in His sacrifice he gained for us everlasting life and assured us of God’s love. Christ made it clear whom he came to save when He said; “For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Matthew 9:13) God extends us his endless mercy and love when we come to him with love in our hearts for Him and for our fellow sisters and brothers in Christ.
That is the wonderful affirming and comforting message for this Week; God’s love is endless, infinite and unconditional to all who seek it. Let us look not on the sins of those who claim to be God’s representatives but let us seek God in ourselves and those around us by how well they exemplify LOVE in not only their words but more importantly in their deeds. AMEN