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Fr. Gerry Creedon's homily delivered at St. Charles on May 12, 2002
"Waking up this morning and realizing what day it was, I did what a dutiful son would do and I called my mother. The phone rang and rang and rang and I never reached her. I realized they don't celebrate Mother's Day on this day in Ireland so instead I called my sister, Nora Mary, because today is Mother's Day in Canada as well as the USA. At 7:30 AM, we started the conversation. By 8:30 AM, we are still talking so I advise her that I have a nine o'clock Mass!! At 8:40 AM, I let her know I still have to shave! Thank the Lord she only has four children. The details of every child's development demonstrated the tenacity of a mother's love. There is an old and not very flattering Gaelic saying that basically says, "A mother's apron strings are the strongest spancels (chains)." Irish mothers keep a strong hold on their daughters, and their sons never break the clutch of a mother's love. Wives may try, but their bread is never quite as well baked.
Every parent deals with the balance, needing to hold on and needing to let go. Traditionally and stereotypically fathers get the kids to leave the nest and fly but mothers protect them from this harsh world. In my family it seemed to be the other way around. My mother seemed to always be interested in reports cards and my father not so much. My father didn't push that much. The protection of a mother's love is a stereotype because every parent has qualities to nurture and challenge. We need to protect and nurture and we need to challenge and push children on.
The Apostles Wanted to Clutch, But They Had Work To Do
Monsignor Higgins had always inspired me for the way he applied the social teaching of our Church, and the courage he showed in bringing the gospel to bear on all the areas of human life and work.
In some ways this is the mystery that is celebrated in the gospels of the Ascension. Jesus is moving on to a new horizon and going to the Father. The Apostles want to clutch and hold on. They stand there looking up to the sky. They need an angel to tap them on the shoulder and say, "Why are you looking up in the sky? You have work to do. Go make disciples of all nations."
How Our Mothers Show Love
Part of mothering is to insure that we don't smother. Part of mothering is letting children go and cutting those umbilical cords and apron strings. It is difficult but essential to trust, so that others might experience their own identity and powers.
Yet on Mother's Day we come back to recognizing that, wherever we are on life's journey, the life giving love that we receive from our parents, especially our mothers, is an underlying foundation of trust and faith.
During this season of the year, we celebrate First Communions in the church. I asked the children, "How do your mothers show their love?" One answered, "She cooks and she feeds us". A little Latino boy said, "Platanos con crema", plantains with cream.
My mother has never learned the words, "I'm sorry". So instead she will say something like "would you like a cup of tea?" She offers her acceptance, her appreciation, and her love by feeding.
Jesus: I Will Not Leave You as Orphans
When Jesus left the disciples with the anxiety of being alone, He said, "I will not leave you as orphans". He left us bread as the sign of His continued nurturing and love. As we share that bread of life today, let us celebrate all of those people in our lives who nurture life and spirit in so many different ways.
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or 2002
Homilies
Revised/reviewed May 12, 2002