MOTHERS ARE A BLESSING

One of the most beautiful thing that God ever created is the love of a mother. Since mothers are so important to the family and society, the secular world annually celebrates her - and this year it falls on Sunday, 12 May. Mother’s Day is important as it reminds us to appreciate and thank our mothers - not only once a year but everyday.Whether we are grateful or indifferent to our own mothers - on a day like Mother’s Day we are invited to be thankful, to acknowledge and appreciate them for their love and care.

Mothers do wonderful and amazing things in their lives. It is difficult and tough to understand the pain a mother undergoes for nine months. It reminds me of a wonderful reading from St John’s Gospel (16:21), which says that when a woman is about to give birth, she is in great pain and anguish because her hour of labour has come. After it is all over, she forgets the pain and what remains is joy and happiness because she has brought a new born child into the world. Only a mother can understand another mother’s pain and joy. It is the joy that comes in knowing that the Spirit rests on every mother and they share that joy with us all the time.No one can ever take the place of a mother.

Mothers are a blessing to our home. Strong and nurturing mothers make a happy home and they hold the family together. All of us have a highest respect and admiration for all those who are blessed to be called mothers. Not forgetting the women who desire to be mothers and are looking to adopt, while millions of children are aborted each year. If you do not know what to say to your mother on Mother’s Day, at least you can say one thing, “Thank you, Mum for wanting me and loving me.” We honor and thank the woman who gave birth to us, and nurtured us throughout her entire life.

In my encounter with many mothers, only few mothers have shared that their children really care for them. A mother sacrifices her body, time and energy for her family 24 hours a day. Our mothers bring us into the world - they nurture us, raise us, teach us, instruct us, support us, protect us, provide for us, discipline us and most of all, they love us. They clean the house, prepare the meals, wash the clothes and oversees the family without much thanks from anyone. Today, we shall say to them, “Thank you for being my mother.”

On this Mother’s Day, we can learn wonderful lessons from Mother Mary, our Spiritual Mother, as we take once again her words of prayer and make them our own – “let it be done to me according to your word,” (Lk 1:38). Even as Mother Mary experienced pain and suffering in her life, “she kept all these things and pondered them in her heart,” (Lk 2:19). She was so obedient to the will of God and fulfilled it without any hesitation or fear and brought the Saviour into the world. She gave her heart and soul to raise Jesus. She is a great example for all of us, especially to all mothers in the world.

Jesus Christ sets a great example for us about how to honour our mother at the various stages of life. So today, let’s consider how Jesus honoured His Mother on several different occasions so that we too can follow in His steps. Jesus teaches us that we need to respect and honour our elderly parents and that it is our responsibility to take care of them at their old age. We not only respect and honour our parents on Mother’s Day, but every day of our lives.

These are the thoughts I shared with 40 prisoners in one of the cells at the Kajang Prison on Thursday, 9 May 2019, to remind them of the importance and significance of mothers in their lives and celebrated Mass with them.

Thank you for looking after us so well. We love you! Have a lovely Mother’s Day!