By Fr. Glenn Jones:

Well, now habemus papam … we have a pope. We Catholics see the pope first in authority in the faith, because Jesus designated Peter as “… the rock upon which I will build my Church” (Matthew 16:18 ) After Jesus’ resurrection, the Eleven chose a replacement for Judas Iscariot the betrayer, following psalm 109:8: “His office let another take.” (Acts 1:20). Likewise, the pope takes the place of Peter as head of the current “apostles”, the bishops. The pope, too, is a bishop—the bishop of the seat of the Church: Rome … Rome being the place of martyrdom of Peter, and of Paul.

 Now, in our Mass Gospel today we have a very important exposition by Jesus as He declares: “The Father and I are One.” (John 10:30) That is quite providential after we’ve received a new pope who takes the name “Leo” because, while our current Leo apparently chose his name due to his admiration of Leo XIII from the late 1800s to early 1900s, Leo I (a.k.a., “Leo the Great”) of the 400s was one who first concisely articulated the Christian doctrine of Jesus as being both divine and human—two natures in one person.

As Leo I taught, Jesus was—or rather IS—both totally God/divine and totally human, with human body, soul and will—co-existing in total harmony. The whole theology of salvation revolves around this point. He explained that only a mediator who is both fully God and fully human can bridge the gap between sinful humanity and a holy God.

Christ’s human nature allows him to represent humanity, experiencing suffering and death, while his divine nature ensures the infinite efficacy of his redemptive work, overcoming sin and death, and thus can take on the accountability for sin of all humanity. Thus we read: “… to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)

Another very important tenet of the Gospel today is Jesus telling us: “My sheep hear my voice … I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.”(John 10:27-28) Hearing the shepherd implies following his direction. In a world filled with diversions and pitfalls, attention to this becomes increasingly important … and difficult. For Jesus says: “No one can take them out of my hand,” but we can leave from His hand ourselves. He does not make us as individuals accept the salvific gift He has won for humanity.

One might imagine a brother who, out of some financial desperation, robs a bank. He flees to his wealthy twin brother’s house—repentant, but the crime requires justice. The twin takes his brother’s identifying coat, and tells the pursuing police: “Take me” and is punished in his brother’s stead.

A rather limping analogy, yes, but that’s the principle in a nutshell. In God’s love for us, He suffers FOR us even though it is we who deserve accountability. What more can He do to prove His love for us than give up His life on a cross for us? But He only wants us with Him if we want to be with Him.

For God is our Creator and loves us more than any parent loves his/her child. And like a parent, He longs to see His children thrive, live well, be happy. Nonetheless, like headstrong children, we rebel against what we perceive as control. We want to do our own thing. We want to be “independent” of any rule.

But like a child at the breast, we free ourselves only to our hurt, for to forfeit the nourishment that comes from God—material and spiritual—is to forfeit the true life for which we are made. Our earthly existence is our proving ground, so to speak … whether we choose to do that which is right and good, or not. And, as the Bible tells us from cover to cover, we will be evaluated—“judged”—by what we do in our lives; just read Matthew 25 for one of the starkest affirmations of that point.

But God longs for His faithful … His family … for their eternal life, eternal joy, eternal fulfillment … for them to live in His eternal love.

So this is the most important role of parents: to teach your little ones—God’s beloved little lambs—to follow their protecting and loving shepherd by loving God and loving their neighbor.

Now, you mothers today (Mothers’ Day) are rightfully honored for your role in the family—the honor and privilege of bringing forth new images of God … feeding and nurturing, teaching, healing, and loving.

So, you who are born from mothers, remember the wisest of men and most powerful of the Israelite kings—King Solomon—and how even he honored and revered his own mother as our example: “…the king rose to meet her, and bowed down to her; then he sat on his throne, and had a seat brought for [her]; and she sat on his right [the place of honor]. Then she said, “I have one small request to make of you…” And the king said to her, ‘Make your request, my mother; for I will not refuse you.’” (1 Kings 2:19-20)

This is one of the reasons that we Catholics and Orthodox and some Protestants honor (NOT worship) the Blessed Mother Mary, given to us as mother by Jesus Himself at His crucifixion. (John 19:26-27) We ask her to pray for us just as we ask each other to pray for us, but when she prays, can there be doubt that Jesus repeats Solomon’s words: “Make your request, my mother, for I will not refuse you.” After all, she is—past, present and forever—His mother … whom He is bound to honor by His own Commandment. And yet, loving her Son as she does, she would not ask something He would not be willing to grant.

So, this weekend remember and honor your mother … the tenderness, the caring, the embrace, the love—the very life!—that she has given you. For we who can glimpse our mothers only in memory’s eye, let us seek ever more to make her joyful by living always the true way of the Shepherd she prays you will.

Have a most blessed and happy Mothers’ Day.

Editor’s note: Rev. Glenn Jones is the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and former pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Alamos.