SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

9 MAY 2010. Today the Church celebrates the sixth Sunday of Easter and we, in my family and in countless families across the world, are celebrating Mother's Day.

Today's readings are found here.

There is a focus on peace in the Gospel reading today, and we can begin to get a glimpse of Pentecost in the words of Christ. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, will be sent by the Father to guide us on earth.

Christ says: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you."

The peace of the love of Christ is the gift given to us in utter humility and out of and through His absolute love. The God who is beyond all temporal and physical restriction, has entered into our world after He created us, and His presence in our world and in each of our lives continues today with the continued blessing of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Praise God for His gifts and especially for the gift of mothers.

Today, and always, we place the safety and well being of all mothers under the mantle of protection of our Heavenly Mother, the Blessed Virgin. As she bore Christ in her womb and loved Him as a mother throughout her life, so to does she love each of us today and offer the assistance of her intercessory presence in our lives.