Message: By opening to Jesus, you become part of a spiritual family. Jesus himself is the gate, the door to that enduring home.
Happy Mother’s Day! At the end of Mass we will have a blessing for all moms. This includes moms with a new baby inside. If you haven’t told the dad (smile), you may give a quite a surprise when you come forward!
During the Easter season I’m focusing on a theme important to everyone, but especially young parents: the journey of hope. We need hope to keep going. All of us, of course, have certain hopes – what Pope Benedict refers to as “greater and less hopes.”* We hope for things like financial security, health, a “soul mate,” a legacy, a better world for our children.
The question, however, is what is one’s fundamental hope – one that will give meaning and purpose to everything a person does. We have seen that that hope can only come from God. Apart from God what marks a man’s life are anxiety, loneliness, even misery.** We saw that Jesus offers a remedy for misery: mercy. The Divine Mercy. “Peace be with you,” says Jesus. “Do not be afraid.” When we open ourselves to Jesus, to his mercy we connect not only with him , but with every other believer.
I explained this in the homilies over the past three weeks, beginning with Easter Sunday. You can actually find them online and download them to your computer or iPod. One guy told me that he listens to my homilies before he goes to bed – and that he has never slept better!
Well, I do invite you to come with me on this journey of hope. Today Jesus speaks about our connection with him and other believers. “I am the gate for the sheep,” says Jesus. When we enter through him we become members of a family of believers. All of us belong to some kind of family. Pastor Rick Warren writes, “Our families on earth are wonderful gifts from God, but they are temporary and fragile, often broken by divorce, distance, growing old and inevitably, death.” We know that sadness and on Mother’s Day that sadness can be particularly intense. But it should not lead us to despair. Pastor Warren continues:
“Our spiritual family – our relationship to other believers – will continue throughout eternity. It is a much stronger union, a more permanent bond, than blood relationships.”
Belonging to a spiritual family does not happen magically. It involves God’s grace and our response. The response requires time, work and sacrifice. Here at St. Mary of the Valley, I have been inviting parishioners to a Stewardship of Time – a discipline of daily prayer and then to offer small “javelin-prayers” during the day. Two weeks ago we initiated all-night Eucharistic Adoration. About 80 people signed up and it has already brought great blessings to individuals, families and our overall parish. How about you, my brother, my dear sister? Would you consider an hour of prayer before Jesus, present in the Blessed Sacrament? Come as you are. Bring your Bible, your rosary, your notebook, even your iPad or iPhone. My young priest friends have phone apps for the Liturgy of Hours and other prayers. The only rule is to give the gift of silence to those with you in the Adoration Chapel.
This Sunday I want to offer another prayer opportunity. Many people expressed an interest in making a retreat. In the chairs you will see a booklet for a “Do-It-Yourself Retreat” called “33 Days to Morning Glory.” I’ve wanted to make this retreat for a long time. It has a reflection for every day and if you begin with me now, you can complete it on June 13 – the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua. Take home one of the free booklets. It will become a beautiful part of our journey to hope.
As I mentioned, hope does not come magically. St. Peter refers to patient suffering. All of us – perhaps especially moms – experience suffering. Next week I will address the role of suffering in the journey to hope. It’s not an easy topic and I am a little shy about it since I know people who have suffered so much more than I have. But it’s a necessary theme. It will help us learn why Jesus says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” But that’s for next week.
For today remember: By opening oneself to Jesus, to his mercy, you connect with every believer and you become part of a spiritual family. Jesus himself is the gate, the door to that enduring home. Because of Jesus, we can pray:
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me comfort. Amen.