Reflections on the Fifth Sunday of Easter
“Don’t worry, buddy. Mama’s here. You’re going to be just fine. Give your worries to me and I’ll carry them for you. I love you so much, my brave boy.”
My voice cracked, as it competed with the sirens of the ambulance. My youngest son took a big fall, resulting in an even bigger bump on his head. I was trying my best to sound convincing and believe my own words. Holding my little guy’s hand tight and encouraging him to be brave, I clutched my Rosary beads and silently prayed, “Please, Lord, heal my baby. Take away his fear and let him be okay. I love him, more than he’ll ever know.”
Such is a mother’s heart. It’s been a long week here in the Jones household. As I sit down to write my reflection, I can’t help but smile at readingthe opening words of Sunday’s Gospel. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.” The Fifth Sunday of Easter this year coincides with Mother’s Day, making our Gospel a bit ironic for this mother’s heart. The moment that I found out I was expecting my first son over ten years ago, I assumed the role ofa professional worrier. Since then, I have climbed the ranks, and, after our trip to the ER this week, I feel like I have been promoted to President and CEO of Worry, Inc. Clearly, Jesus intended for me to reflect on this Gospel today. “Do not let your heart be troubled.”
Amidst our rejoicing in the Easter Season, our Gospel passage takes us back to the Last Supper. Jesus is preparing his friends for his imminent death. This Gospel is filled with emotion; Jesus’ words are soothing, comforting, consoling. Jesus tells his friends, “If you know me, then you will also know my Father.” In this discourse, Jesus speaks with a parental tone, embracing his union with the Father to comfort his friends, as a parent might console a beloved child. Knowing that he is about to face his own death, Jesus tries to convince his friends to believe that, despite the pain and sadness that inevitably await them, all will be well again one day: “In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way.”
If I close my eyes and put myself at the table at the Last Supper, I can hear Jesus’ voicerife with emotion. I imagine seeing a tear in his eye, as Jesuspersuades his friends to have faith, despite the heartache that will follow. Perhaps Jesus has trouble reconciling his words of comfortto his friends with his own human emotions. He knowsthat he is going to the Father, but first he must endure suffering. He trusts that he willmeet his friends again, but knows that first they willmeet grief and pain. Perhaps Jesus feels like I did in the ambulance this week; maybe at the Last Supper, he struggles to surrenderhis fears over to God in order to comfort his friends. Such is the heart of one who loves.
As a mother, I have learned that true love is all-encompassing. Blessed beyond measure, my heart overflows with love for my sons and leaps with joy to witness their growth and accomplishments. When I hear my curious Liam share his knowledge about all he has learned, see my Cameron humbly hit a ball out of the park, or listen to my Brendan read a book to me for the first time, my heart swells with pride. When my boys pray with me at bedtime, snuggle with me on the couch, wipe a tear from my eye after a hard day, or say, “I love you, Mom,” my heart melts. The same heart breaks when my sons are hurting, physically or emotionally. It makes sacrifices for their betterment; it worries for their future; it cries when we are apart. A mother’s heart knows no bounds.
Jesus understands a mother’s heart; his message today is to each heart that loves. Jesus knows that, for the heart that truly loves, life will not be easy. He understands, from experience, that the heart that loves will also endure pain and sacrifice, worry and anguish. Because Jesus loves us more than we can fathom, he invites us to trust in him, to cast our worries upon his Sacred Heart, and let his love work in our lives. As I encouraged my child to let me carry his worries for him, Jesus does the same for me. Because Jesus loved us first, we confidently can call out to him, in the words of our Psalm today, “Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.” When we trust and believe in his loving heart, Jesus will “call [us] out of darkness into his wonderful light” and make sure that where we are, He also will be.
Earlier this week, when we returned home from the hospital, my little guy snuggled in my arms. “I love you, Brendan,” I whispered. Upon hearing his sweet reply, “I love you, Mommy,” I closed my eyes and held him tight. I thanked God for the gift of my children and for his healing and loving presence. I thanked God for blessing me with a mother’s heart. As my son rested in my arms, I allowed myself to surrender my worries to Jesus and rest in his loving protection, at least for the night. On this Mother’s Day, my prayer is that all hearts that love may do the same. May we always love, as Jesus loves. May we accept Jesus’ invitation to cast our worries upon him and let our loving hearts not be troubled. May our hearts always follow Jesus, knowing that He is “the way and the truth and the life.”
~ Shannon Jones