Someone sent me this a few weeks ago, via e-mail. It didn’t have a title, but it could be called, "Some very important things my mother taught me."

"Someday you’ll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!"

We say that something is humorous, because it bears some resemblance to reality. In other words, there’s an element of truth present in it—an element which has either been exaggerated or cleverly "twisted" in some way.

And so it is with this little reflection on motherhood. It’s humorous—precisely because there’s a great deal of truth in it! The truth is that our mothers did teach us (and in some cases are teaching us) about many of these subjects (justice, religion, wisdom, etc.). Of course most of them didn’t do it—and aren’t doing it—in the ways mentioned here (although they might have said many of these things to us!). For example, my mother taught me a great deal about religion—probably more than any other individual. However, she didn’t do it by yelling at me and threatening me after I spilled soda on the living room carpet! She might have done it after such an incident, but the lesson would have taken the form of extending me forgiveness, and making me clean up my mess—so that I would learn something about God’s forgiveness, and about being a responsible steward of his creation.

On that note, I think it’s providential that the Church gives us these 3 Scripture readings and this responsorial psalm today—on Mother’s Day—because they point us to some of the most valuable lessons a mother can possibly impart to her children.

For example, in today’s second reading St. John makes this statement: "See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called children of God. Yet so we are."

That’s one of the most important messages a mother can (and should!) give to her children: "First and foremost, my child, you don’t belong to me, you belong to God. You are made to know, love and serve him. And so, as you go through life, you must always strive to do his will—not mine, and not anyone else’s."

This, admittedly, is hard for many mothers—and fathers! Because it means they have to "let go," and resist the temptation to manipulate their children in any way. But resisting the temptation to manipulate is definitely worth the effort, since young people who learn to obey the will of God find their true calling in life; while those who do the will of their parents often marry the wrong person, choose the wrong vocation—the wrong job—the wrong friends—and on and on the list goes.

In today’s first reading, St. Peter says (referring to Jesus), "There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved."

A good mother teaches her children God’s truth, and she’s not ashamed of that truth. In this, she is just like St. Peter, who was crystal clear on the identity of the real and only Savior. And the first concern of a mother who knows this Savior is the concern she has for her children’s eternal salvation—not what college they should go to; not what extra-curricular activities they’ll participate in; not what career they’ll have later in life. Those other matters are important, but secondary. The spiritual is primary; the spiritual is foundational.

Apropos of that, you have no idea how angry I get when I hear a little child say to me in confession, "But Fr. Ray, I want to go to church. I tell my mom to take me, but she says we have more important things to do." Now there’s a mother whose priorities are completely mixed up. And I’m sure St. Peter would agree.

The responsorial psalm for this Mass, psalm 118, begins with the words, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever." A good mother teachers her children to be grateful—first to God (because all good things come from his hand), and then to other people. And she teaches her children that God is merciful—by her own forgiveness of them; and, if she’s Catholic, by taking her children to Confession—and by going to Confession herself—on a regular basis.

And, finally, a good mother—in imitation of the Good Shepherd we heard about in today’s Gospel—lays down her life for her children. Now, thankfully, most mothers will never be called upon to die physically for their sons and daughters (although every good mother I know would!); but there are 1,001 "deaths" that they do experience on a daily basis because of their vocation! Please hear that, young people! Your mothers very often die to their relaxation, because they have to drive you to your soccer and baseball games. Your mothers often die to their favorite form of recreation, because they have to go shopping and then cook supper. I think it’s safe to say that much (if not most) of the time your mothers die to what they want to do, so that you can do all the things that you need to do.

In this, your mothers are teaching you the meaning of sacrificial love. And in this materialistic, hedonistic, self-centered culture of ours, that is an extremely important lesson.

May you all learn it well!

Now perhaps some of you were not blessed with an earthly mother who taught you self-sacrificial love or any of the other lessons I just mentioned.

That, unfortunately, can happen.

If that is your situation, please remember this: You are here because your mother allowed you to be born. As imperfect as she may have been, she did cooperate with God to give you the gift of life—and we praise the Lord today that she made that choice!

Furthermore, even though your earthly mother failed you in some way (as all our earthly mothers fail us to some extent because they’re sinners), remember that you have a perfect mother in heaven named Mary, who does love you with the perfect love of her Son—and always will.

And so, it’s fitting that I close this homily by asking you to join me in a special prayer to her for all our earthly mothers, both living and deceased: