May 10, 2026 - Sixth Sunday of Easter
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Today the readings invite us to reflect on God’s abiding presence—made known through love, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, and through the relationships that shape our lives. This year, as the Sunday coincides with Mother’s Day, that message takes on a particularly tender and human dimension. In the Gospel from John (14:15–21), Jesus speaks intimately to His disciples as He prepares them for His departure. He does not hide the reality that they will soon experience His absence in a visible way. Yet His words are filled not with abandonment, but with promise: “I will not leave you orphans.” He assures them that they will receive the Advocate, the Spirit of truth, who will remain with them always. This promise speaks to one of the deepest human fears—the fear of being left alone. Jesus responds not simply with reassurance, but with relationship. The presence He promises is not distant or abstract, but personal and enduring. It is the very life of God dwelling within His people.
On this Mother’s Day, we can hear in Jesus’ words an echo of the love that so many have experienced through a mother’s care. At its best, motherhood reflects a love that is constant, attentive, and self-giving—a love that says, in countless ways, “I am here for you.” While human love is never perfect, and experiences of motherhood can include both joy and pain, it nevertheless points beyond itself to the faithful love of God. Jesus also makes clear that love is not merely something we feel—it is something we live. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Love is revealed in action, in fidelity, in sacrifice. It is seen in the quiet, everyday choices to be patient, to forgive, to serve. In this way, the lived experience of motherhood often becomes a powerful witness to the kind of love Christ calls His disciples to embody.
The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles (8:5–17) shows the early Church continuing to grow, yet also needing to be strengthened. Through the laying on of hands, the believers receive the Holy Spirit, reminding us that faith is sustained not by human effort alone, but by God’s life within us. The Spirit is the one who teaches us how to love, how to remain faithful, and how to live as true children of God. This, too, resonates with the vocation of motherhood. A mother does more than provide care; she forms, guides, and prepares her children to live with wisdom and love. In a similar way, the Holy Spirit forms us interiorly, shaping our hearts so that we may live as Christ’s disciples even in His physical absence.
This Sunday, then, becomes an opportunity for gratitude and prayer. We give thanks for mothers—living and deceased—who have been instruments of God’s love in our lives. We remember those who long to be mothers, those who struggle in their vocation, and those who carry the sorrow of loss. We also recognize the many spiritual mothers—teachers, mentors, and caregivers—whose quiet witness reflects God’s care in hidden but powerful ways. Above all, we are invited to rest in the deeper truth that Jesus reveals: we are not orphans. In a world where many experience isolation and uncertainty, His words remain a source of hope: “I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you.” This is our identity. We are not abandoned. We are not forgotten. We are beloved.
To live this truth is perhaps the most fitting way to honor both the Sixth Sunday of Easter and Mother’s Day. Having received the faithful love of God, we are called to make that love visible—through our actions, our sacrifices, and our care for one another. For in the end, love is not only something we celebrate. It is something we are called to become. God bless everyone always!!!
Happy Mother’s Day!!!
Fr. Stan
