My friends, we continue on through the joy-filled season of Easter, proclaiming our “alleluias” in gratitude for all our loving God has done.  And rightly so!  Our God is truly good, truly good, in bestowing love upon us—for that is what the Incarnation is all about—letting us know we are loved.  And because we are loved, our God wants us to be the best people we are capable of being—thus, enter Jesus, our brother.  Following him will make this as near possible as can be within the confines of our humanity. 

   So, the Easter Season calls us to a balance—that of gratitude for life and love, but challenged too, to be about love in our own lives.  An overview of this Sunday’s readings describes, precisely that.

   The 1^st reading from Acts shows Paul and his disciples spreading the Word throughout the ancient Greek world, and not just once, but returning to see how in fact, they are doing.   Now, even though the reading doesn’t say, in so many words, one has to believe that spreading the Word, for Paul, was “all about love,” realizing what an arduous trip his 1^st missionary journey was.  It is thought that he and his companions traveled 500 miles by sea and 700 miles overland. 

   Beyond “love,” Paul’s character seems to be one of persistence—he seemed to let nothing get in the way of sharing the Word about the One who had so captivated his life.  And additionally, as today’s 1^st reading shows, Paul was consistent in his praise of God for all he was able to accomplish in this regard.  I think we could say of Paul that he did in his life what Easter asks of each of Jesus’ followers—“rightful praise” of the One who gave, and continues to give us so much, and commitment to give back in action a portion, if not all, what we have been so generously given. 

   The 2^nd reading from Revelation in this Easter Season takes a turn from the message given in the previous Sundays of Easter—that purely of praise to One that clearly says, “Our God will not abandon us to the task, but will stand with us, now, “making all things new—taking away tears, mourning, crying and pain.”

   And the deal seems to be sealed with Jesus giving us a “new commandment—love one another.”  And not to put too fine a point on it, our brother Jesus tells us in no uncertain terms— “this is how people will know that you are my disciples—by how you love one another [!]”

   So friends, how do we each do that?!  As you are thinking about it, I will share a couple of things that came across “the wires” this week that we should be aware of.  As we spoke of last week, the issue of abortion is still front and center and no doubt will be until the Supreme Court gives their final ruling next month—one that seems all but done, already.  And as we said last week, this issue is not, “black and white,” but one that falls into a “gray area” as it affects individual lives, differently. Perhaps best said, “It’s messy.”

   This past week, an issue that came to the forefront is in this same category as it involves a woman—the case of a 50-year-old accused of killing her newborn son in 2003.  She also has been accused of killing a newborn daughter four years earlier and this apparently was discovered through the wonders of DNA testing. 

   Now on face value, this looks very bad and something that shouldn’t happen, but we need to look deeper when we as Christians make a determination about what should be done—about what the most loving thing is to do.

   While this woman’s actions are appalling, so apparently was her life when she was being asked to bring a new one into the world.  I personally found it incredibly sad to see the diligence that area police officers (men) put into finding the mother, and “bringing her to justice,” in their words.  And at the same time, I found it incredibly sad that these same officers could not recognize the injustice that this woman faced in her personal life that brought her to such an end.  One has to wonder, were there no fathers of these children? Additionally, why is there so much passion around laying blame on women, for actions that both men and women and our society cause in general.  

   Another story in the news this week was that of the horrendous crimes done to our native sisters and brothers in taking their children from them in the past, attempting to rob them of their own culture and remake them into people resembling their conquerors.  I won’t say more now, except to name this grievous sin. 

   Our brother Jesus tells us that people will know that we are his followers by the way we love.  So how is it that we can claim to be Christians when we pit one life against another? How is it that men in Church, in State, and in the greatest court in the land, including one woman, can claim to be Christians as they contemplate taking away the rights of women in general over their own bodies, with little or no concern for the women carrying the new lives-to-be? Additionally, why is it that Church and State, and Supreme Court don’t put into place rules/laws regarding responsible behavior for men where new life is concerned? 

   I have to believe, in the Churches and in the State, in which we all live, men would come out much better than do women who carry, give birth to, and many times sustain life into adulthood, often to the detriment of their own lives because our country, supported by many Church groups treat women and their rights so unjustly.

   The Minnesota woman who took the lives of her newborns was apparently in no position, emotionally, or physically—on drugs and running from the police, to care for new life.  So, my friends, when we attempt in our own lives to be our best selves—in life that many times is quite “messy” let us all pray that we can try to see the whole picture.  In that regard, I believe there was purpose in Jesus’ request that we love others as we would hope to be loved! 

   In conclusion, so as not to leave us in the depths of sadness and despair, let us remember that keeping a balance in our lives between speaking truth when needed, and loving as close as possible as Jesus did, will bring us far more happiness and hope than if we choose the easier, “black and white” path that merely leads to judgment, not to resolution of real, life problems.  Amen? Amen!

   My friends, this 4^th Sunday of Easter and as those before and those to come, each, call us, as I have previously said, “back to life.”  This Sunday’s readings have a “shepherd” theme, and the action is that of “shepherding the People of God.  And even though none of us are shepherds, and perhaps never have been, nor will be, we can understand the concept of “shepherding” others in the broader context of simply, “caring for them. It is what Jesus did, and it is what we are called to do. 

   Those of you who have been with us for a while, know that I will always take the Scriptures of any given Sunday and direct us back to our everyday lives, because as Jesus’ followers, “Christians” by name, that is what he always modeled for us—what we say we believe coupled with how we live our lives. 

   And further, we must recognize and be aware that connecting what we read in the Scriptures to our daily lives will often get us into trouble, as it did Jesus, with those who choose to look at life in a very, “black and white” way. 

   A case in point of course is the discussion across our country about possibly overturning Roe v. Wade—the right of a woman over her own body—more specifically, the right—should she choose to seek an abortion.  Friends, as you may know already and accept, but I need to say it anyway for clarity here; this is not a “black and white” issue.  For those who want to see Roe v. Wade overturned, it is of course, “black and white”—thus the problem. 

   Those who have been part of this nearly 50-year-old fight to overturn the 1973 Supreme Court decision to make abortions legal across our land call themselves, “pro-life.”  Unfortunately, as we know, this desire to “protect life” only seems to extend to the life within the womb— “a life” that most times would be unviable outside of the womb. 

   Whenever women and men who advocate for an end to Roe v. Wade, are asked about the life outside the womb, should a woman carry the pregnancy to term, these same advocates for life early-on, have no plan for their care once here, and will often be against the social programs needed to care for these individuals, which for their lack, many times caused the women to seek abortion in the first place.  Perhaps those who so stridently claim to be “pro-life,” were to support care for those already here, they would be doing more to end the need for abortions in the first place. 

   I believe the part of this discussion that is most disconcerting to women is the complete lack of consideration for the women carrying the potential new lives.  Why, many ask, are their lives not considered as well, when we discuss the right-to-life? 

   The stories abound of women who sought the care to terminate their pregnancies in order to save their own lives, yet their lives are seldom, if ever considered by those who advocate to overturn this right for women, which, by the way, is also a right for men.  And if you don’t believe that, then consider how this discussion would go if it were the men asking for the right to choose about the care of their own bodies.  When we are making “life” decisions for our world, we must consider all who will be affected; that is what makes life good for all.  So, suffice to say, this current discussion is messy.  There is not a “one size fits all.” 

   Looking back to the Scriptures for today, the first reading from Acts gives us a few ideas to consider:  We are told to, “hold fast to the grace of God” [because], “I have made you a light to the nations.”  For me, this says, in the “messiness” of life, to always believe that our God is with us, giving the “grace” needed to do the most, “loving thing” for all considered. 

   Such “life” decisions call each of us to be responsible persons in the “life” we say, “yes” to.   Not just bringing life into existence but doing all that we can to assure that such life becomes “meaningful” and “viable” throughout its entire existence. 

   The month of May also calls us to reflect on a very special woman in our religious history.  Of course, I am speaking of our mother, sister, and friend, Mary of Nazareth—not at all, a “wallflower” or a “yes-woman,” which generally means, unfortunately, “a door mat” for the hierarchy.  To be clear, saying “yes” was definitely part of Mary’s life—but her “yeses” had to do with supporting justice, mercy and most of all, love—as did her son, Jesus. 

   This Sunday is also Mothers’ Day, a day we remember all mothers; those blessed with giving physical birth, but also those who have gifted many with emotional and spiritual mothering.  All are so important because just as we need those who can give physical birth, we likewise need women who can have others’ backs supporting them through the ups and downs of life.  Sometimes “physical” moms can give emotional and spiritual mothering too, sometimes not and thus the need for mothers of all kinds.  I personally am grateful for all the mothers I have had in my life and so grateful too for those who helped me to mother my own kids. 

   Again, this “mothering” issue is not, “a one size fits all.”  We get a sense of this too in the second reading from Revelations where John speaks about, “the shepherd… [and how this one] will lead [the sheep] to springs of water.”  This [mother] we might say, “knows [their young] “and will never let them perish”—words spoken also by John in the gospel today.

   So friends, much on our spiritual plates again!  I think sometimes we can get frustrated when all is not, “neat and clean”—at peace, perhaps—but life calls us to all of this.  We have been promised “the grace” we will need, and we must anchor our hope in that belief and trust it.  I know personally that if I thought I had to do what I do all alone, I know I could not do it!  I depend on God, in Jesus, on all of you, on family and friends, to all help me and to help those in all our wider worlds to do what is most loving in every situation. 

   And for that reason, as we are all called “to be light” in our world and I will end with this; I find it so discouraging that those in positions of leadership within our Church are so reluctant to lead.  Where are they in promoting “life” for all people, not just in the womb, but for children and adults—all along the life continuum?  Where are their voices when it comes to eliminating the real threat to life by the proliferation of guns in our society—where are they when it comes to valuing the lives of all our non-binary, LGBTQI+ folks—where, when it comes to taking lives by execution –many times innocent lives—where, when this country incarcerates black people at 5 times the rate of white people?  I often wonder why these so-called Catholic leaders don’t drop “Christianity” from the names used to describe themselves. 

    My friends, as you can see, the right to a decent, good, and peace-filled life is so much broader than those who claim to be “pro-life” are willing to look at.  When they can see beyond the beginning of life, they will acquire so much more credibility in the view of those who consider right-to-life from birth to death as the Good Shepherd did. Amen? Amen! Alleluia!