Sixth Sunday of Easter

This Sunday, being Mother's Day, the Homily was all about love. Father spoke of Woodstock (!); a time when we all about love and were excited about love.  Somehow, we have lost sight of that love. God calls us to love one another, even when it is difficult, and even when the receiving person doesn't want it. It was at this point he brought in Mother's Day. How many of us who are parents can identify with the receiving person not wanting our love? (Think about those teenage years with our kids...or even with us.)
What do we have to give Jesus?  We have nothing but our love. We will receive abundance in return, but all He asks is that we give Him our love.
This was the first Mother's Day without my mother, who passed away very unexpectedly last July. We never placed that much emphasis on that day; I told my father that every day was Mother's Day. That didn't keep me from getting teary-eyed at the end of the Homily. Father said that he enjoys seeing the crowd on Mother's Day, because that's the day that mothers can guilt their children into coming to Mass with her. At the end of the Homily, he referenced it again, and asked everyone to pray for those of us who would give nothing more than to be sitting next to our moms in the pew.
I can honestly say that I gave my mother all of my love, and received an abundance in return. Father said that "love is when you don't get anything in return", but I would have to disagree with him on this point. I don't think it's when you don't get anything in return, but rather, when you don't expect anything in return.

For it is in giving that we receive.  (Prayer of St. Francis)