On this Mother’s Day weekend, there are many way to describe Moms. For example to say that they are kind, or loving. But I have an image that describes Mom very well. It is something that everybody needs, and can be found in every household in the USA, if not the world. For me, motherhood is like … [hold up a roll of toilet paper]
That’s right, like toilet paper. Think about it, just as toilet paper comes is a variety of styles, colors, textures, and ability to absorb . . . so do Moms, there is no ONE size or color of a Mom.
Most of us take toilet paper for granted, until it’s gone. Unfortunately many of do that with our Moms, until they are gone.
Sometimes moms are there in our ‘smelliest’ moments
We often rely on them to clean things up.
Often Moms take a lot of cr…, um, stuff from us.
And like toilet paper, sometimes we need just a little ‘mothering’ [take apart one square of toilet paper], and sometimes we need a whole lot of mothering! [roll off a large amount of toilet paper]
Today/yesterday is the 100th Anniversary of the appearance of the Blessed Mother to the children in Fatima, Portugal. As a matter of fact Pope Francis canonized today, two of the three children that Mary appeared to: Francisco and Jacinta Marto. Now I am not saying that Mary is like toilet paper, but she has been a good comfort and aid to help clean up things in people’s lives.
I say Moms are the toilet paper of life. The writer of the second reading would probably say that Moms are the corner stones of life. Now remember that a corner stone is a large stone is that first stone set in place before any other building happens. Upon that stone the rest of the stones are added to create a structure or a building
In the second reading, the writer (probably not actually St. Peter, but one of his followers) says that Jesus is the LIVING corner stone. It is upon him that we are built. Upon him our faith is built. Yet just as the writer says, some things about Jesus were rejected, he is still the foundation. I would imagine that some of the things rejected were: forgiving difficult people,
loving an enemy,
using non-violence when there is a problem
be not afraid, but trust God in all things.,
Jesus is the corner stone of our faith, and yet the second reading tells us to be corner stones also, living stones. We are to be the foundation for others to build upon. You need to ask yourself . . . am I a person that others can rely on, can depend on, can build upon? What do you need to improve upon for others (your friends and family) to consider you a corner stone for them?
In a general audience in 2015, Pope Francis said, “To be a mother is a great treasure. Mothers, in their unconditional and sacrificial love for their children, are the antidote to the spread of self-centered individualism.”
So I have some responses from elementary kids about Moms MOM “Why God made moms"
Why did God make mothers?
“To help us out of there when we were getting born.”
What does your Mom do in her spare time?
“Mothers don't do spare time.”
What kind of little girl was your Mom?
“I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.”
“They say she used to be nice.”
Who's the boss at your house?
“Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.”
“Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.”
What's the difference between moms and dads?
“Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.”
“Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.”
If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?
“She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.”
“I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.”
“I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.”
As writer Erma Bombeck says, "When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they're finished, I climb out."
So we celebrate all you Moms today. I would like to have you stand up now for a blessing.
[offer a blessing for all Moms.]