| Homily
for the 6th Sunday of Easter: May 13, 2007
Given by the Most
Reverend Stephen E. Blaire at the Cathedral of the Annunciation
in Stockton.
During the Confirmation Masses this year I have
been asking the candidates for examples of courage. Recently
one of the young ladies gave the example of her mother. She
had come as a widow with her children from Latin America to
this country. The young lady described how hard her mother
has worked to make a life for them and how much she admired
and loved her mother for all that she has done for her. Building
on these examples I have spoken to the Confirmation candidates
about courage as a gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit
strengthens us to be faithful to Christ in the experiences
of our daily living.
What activates the Church to carry on the work
of Christ in the world is the Holy Spirit. What activates
us to be faithful to Christ and to observe His commandments
is the Holy Spirit. Jesus said “Whoever loves me will
keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come
to him and make our dwelling with him.” It is by the
grace and power of the Holy Spirit that we are able to keep
the word of God.
Jesus further said that the Holy Spirit will
teach us everything and remind us of all that He has told
us. The Holy Spirit teaches us the way of God, the way of
eternal life and the way of virtuous living. The Holy Spirit
will not let us forget the teachings of Christ, but we must
hear these teachings over and over again and never stop studying
them and praying over them so that we can live them.
Today we honor our mothers. The Church’s
words to Christian mothers and really to all mothers is the
same gospel message she offers to all her members. “Whoever
loves me will keep my word.” In the eyes of God there
is neither male nor female, rich nor poor,
young nor old, but all are one in Christ. Each one of us receives
the message of God in our human capacity and situation.
So the Christian mother receives the gospel
message of love in her capacity as a mother.
For example, I think of Jesus’ words, “Do not
let your hearts be troubled.” How often they are a mother’s
words to her children, even her adult children, words of comfort
and reassurance. I remember well one difficult situation I
got myself into when I was growing up and my mother said to
me “We will work this out.” It gave me great confidence.
The girl being confirmed chose her mother
as an example of courage. May the Holy Spirit on this Mother’s
Day fill all our mothers with the courage and grace to fulfill
the noble role given to them in the conception and birth of
their children. I join with you in giving thanks to God for
the gift of our dear mothers.
Last Update May 14, 2007
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