Father Rick’s Two Minute Homily for 6th Sunday in Easter A

Mother’s Day May 5, 2026, John 15:12-17 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050826.cfm

Choosing to Love

Every Wednesday, our Holy Father, Pope Leo, has a general audience in Rome. Recently, his theme has centered on the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus.

I want to share a heartfelt quote from his reflection on the Last Supper. It brings my Mom to mind, and I’m sure it will remind you of yours as well. The word that really caught my attention was “preparation.” As I read Pope Leo’s words to you, let’s gently reflect on our Moms and the wonderful ways they prepare everything for us.

The Holy Father says,

In the Gospel of Mark, it is told that “on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, ‘Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?’ (Mk 14:12).

It is a practical question, but also filled with anticipation. The disciples perceive that something important is about to happen, but they do not know the details. Jesus’ answer seems almost to be a riddle: “Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water” (v. 73).

The details become symbolic: a man carrying a jar, a typically feminine gesture at the time; an upstairs room already prepared; an unknown host. It is as if everything has been arranged in advance. In fact, this is exactly the case. In this episode, the Gospel shows that love is not the result of chance, but of a conscious choice. It is not a simple reaction, but a decision that requires preparation. Jesus does not face his passion out of fatalism, but out of fidelity to a path freely and carefully accepted and followed. This is what comforts us: knowing that the gift of his life stems from conscious intention, not a sudden impulse.

-Pope Leo August 6, 2025

It’s clear to the Holy Father and to us, please God, that love isn’t just a matter of chance but a heartfelt choice that calls for careful thought and preparation. I really appreciate the line, “It is as if everything has been arranged in advance.”

Sometimes, instead of focusing solely on feeling love or enjoyment, we spend our days caring for others. CHARITY can mean embracing the trials that come our way,

which strengthens our relationships. When someone goes out of their way for you, something special occurs in your heart. You know you’re loved for who you are.

I want to pause for a moment now and invite you to reflect with me on the times our Moms made a conscious choice to love us, especially when it cost them a great deal. How many times were they Jesus to us, preparing the man carrying a jar, arranging the upper room in great detail, and making sure that everything was in place?

Thanks, Mom, for all the things you do for us and have done for us. We want you to know how much you mean to us. We love you, Mom.

Happy Mother’s Day