Sunday Homily, May 14, 2017, 5th Easter
Readings:
Acts of the Apostles 6, 1-7, Select from among you 7 reputable men.
Psalm 33, Lord, Let your mercy be upon us as we place our trust in you.
1 Peter 2, 4-9, You are a chosen race.
John 14, 15-21, If you love me you will keep my commandments.
"Hi, Everybody," says Zoe, "And Happy Mother's Day."
Mother's Day History:
1905-08: Anna Jarvis of West Virginia began this celebration for her mother, Ann, who cared for wounded Civil War soldiers of both sides. She campaigned to make it a national day and in
1914: Woodrow Wilson made it national.
The spelling: always singular, according to Anna.
Hallmark Cards: Anna hated them because she felt you know what.
"From me, too," says Tori, "Happy Mother's Day."
It’s Mother’s Day !
In honor of it being Mother’s Day I want to tell two stories about my mom. One story is about a compliment she gave me and the second is about a trip we made together.
The first story took place around ’89 or ’90. I had already returned from East Africa and had already put in a year in a Hispanic church the Jesuits ran in downtown Houston. I was now living at the high school community.
Welcome home, Dawson, from first year at Ole Miss.
It was early afternoon. We were on westbound LBJ heading toward what used to be called the Deadman Hospital at Webb Chapel. The name has been changed. Mom was going to the hospital to have some minor surgery, and would stay overnight.
As we drove along she reached out her left hand, patted me on the leg, and said, “I’m proud of you.”
The bells are ringing, time to start.
I may be wrong, but I don’t remember my mom ever doing that before. You got to remember that she had always been bummed about me joining the Jesuits and she had never spoken to a Jesuit for about 7 years after I had gone to East Africa.
She thought I had been sent despite my insistence that I had simply accepted an invitation.
Our Candle Lighter of The Week, Leo.
Offertory time with Warren, Barb, and Bill.
I was already probably 50 years old at the time mom complimented me. I had been around a bit. That compliment really touched me.
The second story took place on one of my home visits from East Africa. Mom got her two sisters to join her and invited me to drive them around Ireland one Fall on my return to East Africa.
Communion helpers, Mike, Geri, Claire, Beth, and Rob.
We met in London, which is a story for another homily. We went to Dublin and leased a little red, two door car. We drove counter clockwise through County Cavin, where they looked in graveyards for our ancestors, through Northern Ireland, and through the northwest until we arrived at Shannon Airport.
They were like three teen aged girls, laughing, and telling stories about their early day. Thanks to the smallness of Ireland, we were able to make good progress even though we would usually not be ready to depart in the morning until 10:00 or 10:30. By 11:30 they wanted to stop for tea.
Buddies, Zoe & Harper.
12:30 or 1:00 lunch. 3:30 for tea and pastries. Finally, by 5:30 I had to start looking for a place to stay & eat. And this was a process. I had to check it out. Then my mom checked it. If she gave the okay, in everyone went to eat dinner and laugh themselves silly until 11:00 or 12:00 midnight.
It was one of the fun trips of my life and I was most touched that mom had invited me to be their driver.
Buddies, Mike & Rosemary.
The power of a mother to give life through a simple compliment.
How has your mother given you life?