Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
I am writing this column on the Anniversary of my mother’s death. She passed away at 58 years old, much too young! Jim and I had just gotten married and had no children yet. But she left quite a legacy – she and my dad raised 8 kids who each married and had kids and now THEY are having kids. We are up to 68 in our immediate family… and still growing!
Our Gospel passage this Sunday from John is short but impactful:
“My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”
With this being Mother’s Day, I can’t help but draw a parallel between Jesus’ comforting words and the love and care of a mother. Jesus tells us that our heavenly Father has us in His hand! I picture a new mom or dad with a small infant cradled close and realize that same love and tenderness is how God, our good Father, holds each one of us!
I am now in a beautiful season of life…our son Andrew just welcomed his second child in February, and our daughter Claire is getting ready to welcome her frst in July. Those of you who are grandparents know what I am just learning. The love you had for your own children only seems to intensify with the birth of their children. As a grandparent, you aren’t loving your grandkids more than your own – you have a new perspective. That of standing back and seeing the gift of a new creation – entrusted to us by God. May we all love each other with the same overwhelming love our Father has for us!
With this reading falling on Mother’s Day, I want to give a nod of appreciation to all of our moms, grandmas and mother-in-laws in our Ascension community!
Happy Mother’s Day!
Liz Willman
Pastoral Associate for Adult Faith Formation