In the gospel
reading for this coming Sunday, which is Mother’s Day, Jesus tells us, “My
sheep hear my voice.” Interestingly, the first voice we come to know, in the
womb, is that of our mother. As children, we can always pick out our mother’s voice
calling us when we are in a crowd or outside playing, and when our mother uses
our middle name, we know we’re in trouble.
Furthermore,
like the shepherd described by Jesus, when one of her children is lost or in
danger, a mother entrusts the care of her other kids to a family member or
friend and goes to be with the one who is in crisis. Mothers, like shepherds,
also try to help us make good choices and guide us on the right path.
In a world in
which few of us have encounters with shepherds and sheep, our mothers may be
the best representation of Jesus as shepherd. Jesus knows us and loves us in
the same way that our mother knows us and loves us; recognizing this can help
us have a closer relationship with Jesus the good shepherd. Just as Mary, our
universal mother, leads us to Jesus, so do our earthly mothers. May they be
blessed with the strength, wisdom, and patience that all shepherds need.
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