May 10, 2015 – Sixth Sunday of Easter
Acts 10: 25-26, 34-35, 44-48; Ps 98: 1-4; 1 Jn 4: 7-10; Jn 15: 9-17
“This I command you: love one another.” Note that in this direct quote from today’s Gospel that the Lord does not offer this as a suggestion nor as an option. It is a command. He reinforces this several times in Holy Scripture as He offers it as one of the two most important commandments. If we make an effort to genuinely love one another, we will have gone a long way to living out discipleship and stewardship.
It is appropriate on this Sixth Sunday of Easter when we celebrate Mothers’ Day throughout the United States that our readings are filled with the message of love. The love of a mother is one of the great blessings anyone can receive. We should have no difficulty on this day letting our mothers — in fact, all those women who have provided support and forgiveness to us — know that we love them.
If loving one another is one of the hallmarks of stewardship as a way of life, showing that love to our mothers, and for mothers, showing and expressing their love to their children is paramount on this day. As Christ said in today’s Gospel, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s love for one’s friends.” Mothers do that constantly, sacrificing so much for their children. We are blessed; let the “mothers” in our lives know that they are a blessing.
