My friends, the readings for our edification today should both comfort and challenge us.  Sirach, being the prophet that he was, could be expected to speak of justice and of the God of justice–that is what prophets do—speak the words that need to be spoken, whether the words are accepted or not, on behalf of the God who loves us all so much, and wants good for each of us.  The comfort that the righteous should feel at the words from Sirach, in our 1^st reading today, will come out of their honest attempts to live out in their lives, the law of love.

The gospel reading calls us to make a distinction between being righteous and being self-righteous.  Those who are truly righteous are humble people, being fully aware of their inadequacies as well as those things that they have accomplished in life.  Humility’s place comes with the righteous person’s realization that their God who loves them, has additionally gifted them with so many good things, that can then be shared with others.  There is the realization that without God’s strength, manifested in the good of others; there would be so much that they couldn’t do.  Humility also allows the righteous to be fully aware of those places in their lives that need redemption.

It has been said that “kids say the darndest things,” and this week, spending time with our grandson, I was reminded of this truth. One day, Elliot and I were playing with some flash cards and we came upon one that was torn in half. I asked him what had happened and his mom gave the explanation saying that he was a lot younger when that happened. Elliot had an explanation too that I thought was perfect to describe the process of sorrow and reconciliation in our lives.  Elliot looked at me in response to my question about what had happened and with appropriate sorrow on his little face said, “I teared it and I’m so sorry—what can I do about it?”

The self-righteous are those individuals who are fully aware of their goodness and aren’t shy about letting others and even God know all that they have accomplished, like the Pharisee in today’s Gospel.  These people generally are not the humble among us, because they aren’t aware that they have indeed been gifted, but by God, with so much, or for whatever reason, have maybe never experienced what it is like to have everything taken from them, such as those who have encountered the forces of nature recently, or to have struggled with the hardships that can come in life, just by the nature of our human existence; loss of job, illness and more.

I have shared before that I’m struggling to get some sciatica pain under control and the experience of having something that I can’t easily and readily fix has left me feeling very humble and realizing that I depend on so many for so much.  It seems that my mornings are the worst with this affliction and while visiting our family in Kansas City, our daughter Eryn was so good to me, making sure all my needs were met.

As much as I don’t wish pain or suffering on anyone, it does call attention to the fragility of life and of how we are each called to be of service to and for others.  The psalmist’s prayer today is one of comfort in the times of struggle knowing that our God is there and understands our cries for help.

One of the most disturbing aspects of politics in the recent past and through this presidential campaign season is the level that we seem to have stooped to in fighting for what we apparently believe in.  When we seem to become in our own actions and language what we say we are against—then we must ask, what do we really value?

When a woman, the first woman ever to run for president and will probably be elected can’t catch a break from the news casters in all that she has done over 30 years of public life, working tirelessly for women, children and the down-trodden in general, one has to ask if there isn’t some real pharisaical action afoot; if the objection by some of having a woman be our president just as it was for having a black man hold this office is so strong, that it blinds some eyes and hearts to the inherent good in us all, regardless of gender, then we have a problem!

We have a country, Church, and world that are still very patriarchal and it behooves us all to understand that fact in order that we as a world, in all its aspects can truly treat people with justice, mercy and love.

I recently heard a commentary on the insidious nature of gender disparity and the speaker was saying that we all have been raised to discount women by nature of their gender and even those who would deny that they have a gender bias act as if they do. Shortly after hearing this commentary, I heard a news analysis concerning Hilary Clinton and it was so obvious as I listened the bias that was being projected.  The comments concerned her choice of clothes, the sound of her voice (not what she was saying) as well as an inability to judge her on the same criteria that they would a man.

So my friends, let me be clear; I am not advocating for how you vote as much as I am for checking out how we look at all people, no matter the issue–can we hear and see others for what they put forth in life—judge them by their actions and not on how they happen to have been born!

It is apparent that Jesus isn’t holding the example of the Pharisee up for our edification, but that of the tax collector, the person who can only say, “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”  This gospel story, like so many that Jesus gives us, calls us to a standard above this world.  Jesus is very good at flipping the picture to call us to the truth that we must be about—his very telling words that conclude the gospel are evident of this; “Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, while those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Each of us is called within our own life situations to do what we can to make our world more just.  In the selection from Sirach, there is a line,verse 15 that has been omitted, but I think it is good for us to look at because this prophet is calling his society and especially its men to task for its harsh treatment of widows.  He says, “Do not the tears that stream down her cheeks cry out against the one that causes them to fall?”  In light of my thoughts on gender disparity, this might be a good reflection.  The righteous people will be challenged by these words—the self-righteous, probably not.

It has been said that Paul in his letter to Timothy demonstrates both tendencies, that of the Pharisee who is aware of all that he has accomplished and also of the tax collector who is fully aware of where the ability to do good really comes from. “I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race…To Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever!”

For each of us, we are challenged by his words to keep on with our struggles in life doing all that we can to bring justice.  If our lives at their completion can be said to have been about continually striving toward this end, then we too can say with Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race—I have kept faith.

As we reflect on Paul’s life, we must remember that these words were spoken because he knew what it was to struggle for the right—it has been said that someone who was totally into himself or felt justified simply in believing, could never have uttered these words.

Prayer was Paul’s strength as it must be ours in all of our work for justice.  We need the company of friends too to sustain us. I think of those who have been soul mates throughout my life and hopefully, I have been to them as well. Paul had gathered many friends around him and we must do the same. We need others and others need us.

And finally friends, today’s readings call us to truth about ourselves–there is no place for arrogance in Jesus’ kin-dom.  We must always be vigilant against this tendency to think ourselves better than others or more worthy of the good that life holds for the just—the righteous. The point on the continuum between righteousness and self-righteousness is very thin.  Let us pray for each other today that we can always keep our eyes on Jesus and model our lives on his.

John’s wonderful gospel from chapter 17 is the testament upon which our parish, All Are One stands.  I don’t think it could be clearer from Jesus’ mouth what the intention of our Loving God was in sending him—“that all may be one” –he says it again and again, over and over, using many of the same words in order that his hearers, and that includes each of us, would get it—we are loved by God. Period! End of story! How else can I tell you that I love you, Jesus seems to be saying—that is what these years among you have been about—I love you, my Abba God loves you; we are for you.

This gospel is a very intimate one—“I have revealed your name, and I will continue to reveal it so that your love for me may live in them and I may live in them.” When someone says that they want to live in us—I don’t know about you, but that strikes me as the stuff of a great love story.

As we ponder this gospel, I call your attention to the fact that there is nothing in it about Jesus coming to save us from our sins—to die a horrible death, to redeem us.  This gospel speaks of a people already loved by God—already redeemed, who need do nothing but love in return.  As we conclude the Easter Season this next week, this is a lovely end note.

Today we remember our mothers, grandmothers, perhaps other women who have “mothered” us throughout our lives.  For many of us, these fine women who have given us the gift of life in physical, emotional and spiritual ways have gone on to their heavenly reward.  Others of us are still graced by their presence with us. Regardless, those of us who have been touched by special women and have known a mother’s touch and care, realize the gift that was, and continues to be. We perhaps all have a fond memory of a special woman in our lives, or maybe even a man who filled a “mothering” role for us.  I think of gay men for instance across this country raising children within their committed relationships—mothering isn’t gender-specific.

May is also the month when we remember Mary, our mother, Jesus’ mother on this earth. You perhaps noticed our Mary banner is back up and we will use it now for the month of May.  Mary was a strong woman, a woman of faith, who spoke truth to power in her Magnificat, which we will use for our concluding hymn (Canticle of the Turning) today in deference to her.  The Magnificat speaks of how the child she would give the world would pull the mighty from their thrones, would lift up the lowly.  She was our human sister, a woman that we can all look up to and emulate in our lives.  She was a woman of whom it has been said, the Church needs to take a second look at as it does all women in order that the world can begin to see her and her sisters as God does—as strong, faithful and with a purpose beyond being relegated to pedestals.

Out of Rome we see a new monthly magazine, Women-Church-World, that speaks through women writers about the obvious inequality in our Church regarding roles for women.  This magazine is under the auspices of L’ Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, so we don’t know really what this means as no change of rules, but perhaps an opening of the discussion.

On this day that remembers the vocation of motherhood, my reflection on John 17 and the words contained therein, speak of a love as many of us remember when we think of those who mothered us in our lives.  Continuing the reflection on John 17 and God’s great love for us mentioned there, we need to be aware that there is still theology around that speaks of God as someone who sent Jesus as a sacrifice to redeem humanity. This “god” needs the suffering to appease his lust for blood.  I personally choose to recognize the God of John 17, so perfectly expressed in Jesus, one who walks with us on our life journeys, celebrates our joys—cries with us in our losses—is one with us.

Those first followers of Jesus; Peter, James, John, Mary of Magdala, Matthew and the others, didn’t grieve his death and his passing from this earth because he was an ogre—they grieved because he was an outstanding human being who loved profoundly and called each of them and us to be our very best selves—a gift many of our mothers gave us and for which we remember and are grateful today.

Stephen, who may or may not have known Jesus in the flesh, knew his Spirit and his story and experienced his life force in a way that enabled him to boldly proclaim Jesus’ truth to his enemies even though it meant giving his life. He was a man who had Jesus’ Spirit within him—God had come to be one with him.  Such strength and courage as Stephen displayed comes out of love, not fear of a disapproving God who constantly needs the suffering of human creatures to be appeased.

This past Thursday, the Church remembered Jesus’ Ascension which signaled a new way that we would now experience his presence—in his Spirit, which we will more fully celebrate next week on Pentecost Sunday. These past seven weeks we have reflected on the wonder of Jesus’ resurrection which assures us that one day we will experience this phenomenon too.  While the death of Jesus brought sadness to his followers as does the death of our loved ones to us in this life; we must always keep our eyes on the next gift that our loving God gives—because this God is continually giving us more—we can’t experience the next life without passing from this life when our time comes.

I especially think of those within this community who have lost loved ones since our inception as a parish and of friends and acquaintances of each of us who have died—all these are with our loving God now—with Jesus, our brother, enjoying eternal life—a mystery we can only see dimly, as Paul says.

The knowledge of the Resurrection—Jesus’ and our own one day, is about taking life seriously now. As I indicated in the bulletin message—the Resurrection calls us to be grown-ups in our faith—to be about all that is best in life, in gratitude for the love given by a God who wants to live in us—to be one with us, who requests, implores even, that we strive to be one as a people—to invite everyone to the table—to make everyone welcome.

It would behoove us all on this last Sunday of Easter to ask ourselves how much humanity makes it into our daily lives? –better said, how much heart? How much kindness?  Joan Chittister reminds of the words of one of our mother’s in the faith, Abba Poeman, who said, “Teach your mouth to speak what is in your heart.” Jesus came that we would have life and have it to the full. May we each do all that is humanly possible, with God’s Spirit, to bring life to our world.

In conclusion then; I’d like to complete our thoughts on living and loving by sharing some of your thoughts on how you have been mothered in your lifetime. Happy Mother’s Day to all!

[If you are reading these words, you might want to take a few moments to reflect on someone who has mothered you and what that has meant to you in your life.]