We have had so many Sundays with special things going on – Easter Sunday, vocations Sunday, first communions, etc. – and next week Bishop Hanschon will be here at the noon Mass for confirming our young teens.

   But before going on, like usual, some notes about parish life. Just some reminders about the Changing Lives together campaign, so far we have heard back from too few families, so, if you are waiting, please kindly send in your pledge as soon as may be convenient for you. We are also in CSA season.

   Also, we have been trying very hard to promote the parish photo album directory; you know we postponed it from April to May because too few signed up. Please sign up; you will get a free family portrait, and the album directory; furthermore, you can buy more copies of your own pictures if you want. It is a great opportunity for you and for the parish, so please, if you have not already, I beg you, stop down by the social hall to sign up, or do so on line, so we can have a successful album. Images of previous albums are on the walls in the hallway, to encourage you to appreciate how enjoyable and useful such an album could be.

   Also, just a reminder to be attentive to modesty in Church during the Summer months, thank you.

   I have said so much now about parish life, I better say something about the scriptures, or else your minds and hearts may go hungry for a whole week, hungry for the word of God. And here I have two brief points.

   First, we read in John 15 the glorious command which summarizes every other command, the command of Jesus which encompasses and exceeds the commands of Moses, “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.” Few actions speak so loudly of the truth of one’s faith as showing love for one’s neighbor. Parishes that abound in charity usually flourish, if that charity is united to liturgical fidelity and doctrinal orthodoxy. Parishes that fail in charity, where everyone is gossiping, slandering, fighting, criticizing, nagging… even if they enjoy liturgical fidelity and doctrinal orthodoxy, they languish and eventually die. Christ commanded love, he did not suggest it. And he gave us a measure: “as I love you.” That is, you must love your neighbor, your family members, your fellow parishioners, your co-workers, your classmates, and especially your enemy, to the point of dying for them even amid horrific suffering. Our hearts are made to love, but also to be loved. Love others, and give them good reasons to love you back.

   The second point is that today is Mother’s Day. If it is true that we are made to love and to be loved, then let us reflect that no creature is more loveable in all the visible universe than the woman, especially if she lives according to God’s law. How greatly we love our own mothers, for the endless affection they shower upon us all our lives long. Let us pray for healing in those fewer cases where, even if by their own fault, mothers are not loved as would be ideal; for God wishes us to show gratitude, affection and piety towards our parents, living or dead. Christ himself has huge love for his own Mother, the Virgin Mary, and for His divine love for her, and for her own spiritual perfection, we will never go astray if we truly love the Mother of God. I myself have completely handed over the important enterprise of my own salvation to her hands; for she is not only Christ’s mother, she is my own; and this is so because, on the Cross, the Lord said, “Mother, behold your son; son, behold your mother.” May God bless, through Mary’s intercession, every mother of our parish, filling her with spiritual beauty, supernatural joy, and perseverance in supernatural grace. We’ll have a special blessing for mothers at the end of Mass today. May the Lord bless each one of us, his unworthy servants, Amen.■