May 12, 2013 Cycle C - Mother’s Day
Some days on the calendar are so boring as to escape our notice. If we had to say what we did with most of last week we might be at a loss to account for those hours. But today, this weekend, is not only the celebration of Ascension, or as some would say, the 7th Sunday of Easter, but it is also World Communications Day and notably Mother’s Day. Perhaps the Lord Himself would forgive us for not focusing so much on these in favor of showing honor to our Mother’s. Christ thought very highly of His own Mother.
There is an old story about a working mother who was out of town at a business conference. Believe it or not, she did not have her cell phone handy, so she went to call home collect. Her young son answered the phone and the operator said, “I have a Betty Jackson on the phone. Will you accept charges?” The young boy dropped the phone and ran in to the kitchen to where his dad was and screamed out, “They got mom, and they want money.” No amount of money can measure the value of a good mom.
Today we do wish a blessed day to all our mothers and grandmothers, and substitute mothers. We are given so many splendid gifts in a life time: this world, the family and community, and the richness of our faith, the chance to make our contribution. Like the Lord Himself who slips into eternity at His Ascension, our many blessings can pass through our fingers unnoticed. But today, this weekend, is one more chance to say thank you for our origins, for Mother’s living and deceased, for all those who have nurtured our talents and spirits. It’s also a chance to heal and forgive what may have been lacking in the past and to receive a blessing from Christ.
As we come also to observe the passing of Christ into the heavenly Kingdom, we are challenged to look deeper into what this feast is all about. We often think it’s about Jesus Christ, but it’s really about you and me. Why do I say that? Because as we look closely at St. Luke’s Gospel today, after Jesus reviews the completion of His ministry and mission, He reminds the community that He is sending them forth to continue His work in our world. We are truly reminded that we are to be all about the work of the ministry, for as the passage from Acts tells us “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be My witnesses throughout Jerusalem --- and to the ends of the earth.”
Then the angels came and reminded them “Men of Galilee why are you looking up to the sky, you are now the Church. Get busy. Your best friend has empowered you. You are empowered to witness to the wonderful works of God. Move.” All of us our Church. All of us have been given the Spirit, not just a few.
If we look at this passage from another perspective, Ascension is an announcement of the institution of the priest of the faithful that will be given on Pentecost. That’s why St. Peter could remind his parishioners, as I am reminding you, “You are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a chosen race, a people set apart.”
That’s you: the priesthood of the faithful. You were promised so at the Ascension and made so at Pentecost. You are Christ in the world and the job of the very small minority of the Body of Christ --- about two percent known as the ordained priesthood, like me, is serving the priesthood of the faithful, like you, and reminding you of your calling – which again, like St. Peter, is what I am doing.
Once more, today’s Feast of the Ascension is your feast in preparation for the gift of the Holy Spirit to you. It’s a kind of handing on of the baton. It’s a feast to remind you of your dignity, your calling, your power, and your duty. Together – you, the priesthood of the faithful, and I, representing the priesthood of service to your priesthood --- are reminded that together as Church we are to profess what we believe and live what we profess.
As Jesus said to His disciples in our Gospel, men and women of all walks of life, “behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you.” Remember you have received that promise at Baptism. Remember we are Church. Happy Mother’s Day and may we continue to give honor and praise to all who share in the gift of nurturing our faith and our lives.
Amen. Amen. Msgr. Tom Adrians, Pastor Christ the King