Today we honor our mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, and all who have been like mothers to us.  Peter’s words in today’s second reading apply to many of them, for they have been cornerstones in our lives, chosen and precious.  On this Mother’s Day, I have a deep sense of gratitude for having been blessed by the love of Irene Mary Ragan.  My Mom lived her life immersed in love, a love for God and a love for others, exemplified by the love she showed her family and friends.  She was a woman of faith who was blessed in so many ways and blessed so many others with that faith.  As my Mother she blessed me with the gift of life twice.  She gave birth to me in the natural world and as she taught me to pray and brought me to the Sacraments and helped me to keep my heart open to a priestly vocation, she gave birth to me in the supernatural world.
 
I don’t think this is a big reveal about my orientation but in general, I am in love with women.  Yes, no matter their age I am drawn to their outward beauty, but it is their inner beauty that humbles me and so often brings me joy.  I love their emotional intelligence and their ability to talk about their inner life so easily.  I love their tenderness and compassion.  But Moms are just downright awesome.    Their selflessness in the very act of bringing new life into the world is beyond my comprehension.  And the way they are able to nurture that new life and hold families together through so many different tasks, through so much self-sacrifice is simply supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.  We pray this day for all the women who have loved us and who in loving us have given us new life.  God our Creator, we pray:
 
We pray this day for all the women who have loved us and who in loving us have given us new life.  God our Creator, we pray: 
                                                                                                                                                                                      For new mothers, coming to terms with new responsibility;
For expectant mothers, wondering and waiting;
For those who are tired, stressed or depressed;
For those who struggle to balance the tasks of work and family;
 
 For those who are unable to feed their children due to poverty;
 For those whose children have physical, mental, or emotional disabilities;
 For those who raise children on their own;
 For those who have lost a child;
 For those who care for the children of others;
 For those whose children have left home;
 And for those whose desire to be a mother has not been fulfilled.
             
 
And during these pandemic times, I always think a little humor helps.  Some might consider this to be very little humor, but I’m sure you’ll humor me:
 
What My Mother Taught Me
Author Unknown

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE: "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."
 
2. My mother taught me RELIGION: "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."
 
3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL: "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"
 
4. My mother taught me LOGIC: "Because I said so! That's why."
 
5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC: "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the shop with me."
 
6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT: "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."
 
7. My mother taught me IRONY: "Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."
 
8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS: "Shut your mouth and eat your tea."
 
9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM: "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"
 
10. My mother taught me about STAMINA: "You'll sit there until all those broad beans are gone."
 
11. My mother taught me about WEATHER: "This room of yours looks as if a cyclone went through it."
 
12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY: "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"
 
13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE: "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."
 
14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION: "Stop acting like your father!"
 
15. My mother taught me about ENVY: "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."
 
16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION: "Just wait until we get home."
 
17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING: "You are going to get it when you get home!"
 
18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE: "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."
 
19. My mother taught me ESP: "Put your sweater on; do you think I don't know when you are cold?"
 
20. My mother taught me HUMOUR: "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."
 
21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT: "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."
 
22. My mother taught me GENETICS: "You're just like your father."
 
23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS: "Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"
 
24. My mother taught me WISDOM: "When you get to be my age, you'll understand."
 
25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE: "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!"