The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to take the risk to share the love we celebrate on Mother’s Day by becoming advocates for others in our love and service.
The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles presents the Mission of Philip in Samaria.
* [8:1] All were scattered…except the apostles: this observation leads some modern scholars to conclude that the persecution was limited to the Hellenist Christians and that the Hebrew Christians were not molested, perhaps because their attitude toward the law and temple was still more in line with that of their fellow Jews (see the charge leveled against the Hellenist Stephen in Acts 6:13–14). Whatever the facts, it appears that the Twelve took no public stand regarding Stephen’s position, choosing, instead, to await the development of events.
* [8:3] Saul…was trying to destroy the church: like Stephen, Saul was able to perceive that the Christian movement contained the seeds of doctrinal divergence from Judaism. A pupil of Gamaliel, according to Acts 22:3, and totally dedicated to the law as the way of salvation (Gal 1:13–14), Saul accepted the task of crushing the Christian movement, at least insofar as it detracted from the importance of the temple and the law. His vehement opposition to Christianity reveals how difficult it was for a Jew of his time to accept a messianism that differed so greatly from the general expectation.
* [8:16] Here and in Acts 10:44–48 and Acts 19:1–6, Luke distinguishes between baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus and the reception of the Spirit. In each case, the Spirit is conferred through members of the Twelve (Peter and John) or their representative (Paul). This may be Luke’s way of describing the role of the church in the bestowal of the Spirit. Elsewhere in Acts, baptism and the Spirit are more closely related (Acts 1:5; 11:16). (Acts, ACTS OF THE APOSTLES |USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 66 praises God for powerful acts for Israel.
* [Psalm 66] In the first part (Ps 66:1–12), the community praises God for powerful acts for Israel, both in the past (the exodus from Egypt and the entry into the land [Ps 66:6]) and in the present (deliverance from a recent but unspecified calamity [Ps 66:8–12]). In the second part (Ps 66:13–20), an individual from the rescued community fulfills a vow to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving. As often in thanksgivings, the rescued person steps forward to teach the community what God has done (Ps 66:16–20). (Psalms, PSALM 66 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Reading from the First Letter of Peter presents the hope in Christian Suffering.
* [3:13–22] This exposition, centering on 1 Pt 3:17, runs as follows: by his suffering and death Christ the righteous one saved the unrighteous (1 Pt 3:18); by his resurrection he received new life in the spirit, which he communicates to believers through the baptismal bath that cleanses their consciences from sin. As Noah’s family was saved through water, so Christians are saved through the waters of baptism (1 Pt 3:19–22). Hence they need not share the fear of sinners; they should rather rejoice in suffering because of their hope in Christ. Thus their innocence disappoints their accusers (1 Pt 3:13–16; cf. Mt 10:28; Rom 8:35–39).
* [3:18] Suffered: very many ancient manuscripts and versions read “died.” Put to death in the flesh: affirms that Jesus truly died as a human being. Brought to life in the spirit: that is, in the new and transformed existence freed from the limitations and weaknesses of natural human life (cf. 1 Cor 15:45). (1 Peter, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus promises the Advocate will guide our ministry.
* [14:16] Another Advocate: Jesus is the first advocate (paraclete); see 1 Jn 2:1, where Jesus is an advocate in the sense of intercessor in heaven. The Greek term derives from legal terminology for an advocate or defense attorney, and can mean spokesman, mediator, intercessor, comforter, consoler, although no one of these terms encompasses the meaning in John. The Paraclete in John is a teacher, a witness to Jesus, and a prosecutor of the world, who represents the continued presence on earth of the Jesus who has returned to the Father.
* [14:17] The Spirit of truth: this term is also used at Qumran, where it is a moral force put into a person by God, as opposed to the spirit of perversity. It is more personal in John; it will teach the realities of the new order (Jn 14:26), and testify to the truth (Jn 14:6). While it has been customary to use masculine personal pronouns in English for the Advocate, the Greek word for “spirit” is neuter, and the Greek text and manuscript variants fluctuate between masculine and neuter pronouns.
* [14:18] I will come to you: indwelling, not parousia. (John, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB, n.d.)
Rev. Andy Alexander, SJ, comments that the Greek word, “Paraclete,” has many connotations: the Gatherer, the Comforter, the Protector, the Advocate, the one always at one’s side. He also assures them that Jesus himself will remain in them. They are not going to be left orphans.
“Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.” - Prayer to the Holy Spirit
They are not going to be left orphans (Alexander, 2026)
Don Schwager quotes “There is no love without the Holy Spirit,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"How, then, did the apostles love, but in the Holy Spirit? And yet they are commanded to love him and keep his commandments before they have received him and, in fact, in order to receive him. And yet, without having that Spirit, they certainly could not love him and keep his commandments. We are therefore to understand that he who loves already has the Holy Spirit, and by what he has he becomes worthy of a fuller possession, that by having more he may love more. The disciples, therefore, already had that Holy Spirit whom the Lord promised, for without him they could not call him Lord. But they had him not as yet in the way promised by the Lord... He was yet to be given them in an ampler measure [at Pentecost]." (excerpt from TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 74.1-2) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 14:15-21 comments that Jesus is telling us that two seemingly unrelated areas belong together and depend on each other: loving him and loving one another. We can’t love him, he says, if we are not caring for the people around us. To say that we love the Lord while we are holding someone in contempt or harboring hatred against someone is to miss the point of his gospel message. It’s to miss the point of his cross.
Do you want to observe Jesus’ commandments? And do you want to love him more fully? The answer may be as close as the person sitting across the dinner table from you or the person down the street who needs a helping hand.
“Jesus, help me to love you more deeply by loving others more faithfully.” (Meditation on John 14:15-21, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that in the Acts of the Apostles we hear how Philip went to Samaria, an area occupied by intermarried Hebrew people. This is a sign that the message is spreading beyond the traditional bounds. Peter and Paul get the gift of the Spirit often in dreams. In 1 Peter, we are supposed to evangelize with gentleness and humility without judgement. We die to ourselves to give witness to Jesus' death. In the Last Supper Discourses, we are instructed to keep the commandments. In John’s Gospel, that is often meant “to believe that Jesus is the Son sent by God and it is necessary to live the love of Jesus in our action”. Friar Jude comments that Jesus sends the Paraclete, an ambiguous word for “advocate”. All the action of the Spirit is witness to His presence on the earth after the Ascension.
Father Richard Rohr, OFM, praises the wisdom of the mystic Julian of Norwich (1342–ca. 1416), who experienced the motherhood of God and Jesus. Father Richard considers the archetypal human need for maternal care.
Julian helps me finally understand one major aspect of my own Catholic culture: why in heaven’s name, for centuries, did both the Eastern and Western Churches attribute so many beautiful and beloved places, shrines, hills, cathedrals, and works of religious art in the Middle East and Europe, not usually to Jesus, or even to God, but to some iteration of Mother Mary? Many people in Julian’s time didn’t have access to scripture—in fact, most couldn’t read at all. They interpreted at the level of archetype and symbol. The “word” or logos was quite good, but a feminine image for God was even better. (Rohr, n.d.)
Mirabai Starr translates one of Julian’s teachings on God as Mother:
Only [God] who is our true Mother and source of all life may rightfully be called by this name. Nature, love, wisdom, and knowledge are all attributes of the Mother, which is God. Even though our earthly birth is low and humble … [God] is the one responsible for the birth of all babies that are born to their physical mothers.
The kind, loving mother, aware of the needs of her child, protects the child with great tenderness. This is the nature of motherhood…. Whenever a human mother nurtures her child with all that is beautiful and good, it is God-the-Mother who is acting through her. [3] (Rohr, n.d.)
We pray the Spirit will fill our hearts with the Love that will drive our Baptismal Anointing as priest, prophet, and leader in the environment in which we live.
References
Acts, ACTS OF THE APOSTLES |USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved May 10, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/8?5
Alexander, A. (2026, May 9). Daily Reflection May 10, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved May 10, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-may-10-2026
John, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 10, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/14?
Meditation on John 14:15-21. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved May 10, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/05/10/1561422/
1 Peter, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 10, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1peter/3?
Psalms, PSALM 66 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 10, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/66?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Motherhood of God. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 10, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/motherhood-of-god/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Counselor Will Be with You for Ever. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 10, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
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