Happy Easter!  John 14:1-2, “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled.  You have faith in God; have faith also in me.  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?’”  My past 4 years at St. John the Evangelist, I have repeated the message: Jesus wants you to be in heaven!  Jesus wants you to be in heaven!  Jesus died for our sins on the cross.  He won for us the Mystery of Redemption.  The gift of faith has been placed in our hands.  We have a choice; choose Jesus or choose the world.  Choose to believe the Eucharist is Jesus or just another object in the world.  The gift of faith has been placed in our hands.  Heavenly faith is seeing Jesus in your life like the Eucharist.  Worldly faith is seeing objects that can be used for my own selfish purpose like a piece a bread in the communion line routine.  Look, I am Catholic, I get the bread.
On this Mother’s Day, we look at the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  The gift of faith was placed in the hands of Mother Mary.  Literally, Faith Incarnate, Jesus, was placed in the hands of Mother Mary.  What did Mother Mary do with this gift of faith?  We look to the 5 ^th Joyful Mystery, Finding the Boy Jesus in the Temple.  Jesus explained to St. Joseph and Mother Mary why he was in the temple for 3 days.  Luke 2:49-51, “And he said them, ‘How is it that you sought me?  Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’  And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them.  And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.”  Mother Mary allowed the gift of faith grow by keeping all the memories of her son, Jesus, in her heart.  She remembered everything about Jesus.  Why?  She loved her son.  Mother Mary loved the Eucharist.  Mother Mary chose to allow the Eucharist, Jesus, transform her by his love. 
 
 
 
On this Mother’s Day, we celebrate the Catholic Church.  The Catholic Church is given the title, Mother Church.  The Deposit of Faith has been placed in the hands of Mother Church.  How do we see that in action?  We can look to the Book of Acts where a decision was made to ordain men to be deacons.  Acts 6:2-4, “So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.  Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, who we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.’”  Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Mother Church guides the faithful in understanding what has been revealed by Jesus Christ.  We see that in action in the Book of Acts chapter 6:2-4.  The Catholic Church under the title of Mother Church guides the faithful to understand the ordain ministry of the Diaconate; how the Diaconate care for and protects the Holy Eucharist.  Mother Church is active in our lives teaching us more and more about the Eucharist.
We are relying on Mother Church to guide us through the Chinese Coronavirus crisis.  The big question: When can we go back to Mass?  The Bishops are working on answer to this question.  One of the greatest gifts that Church gives us is the Eucharist.  The shutting down of public Mass is an attack on the Eucharist.  God is giving us a chance to prepare for returning to the celebration of the Sacrifice of the Mass.  You need to seek out the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Ask for forgiveness for any time you treated the Eucharist as an object or doubted the presence of Jesus.  Also, look to the example of Mother Mary; Baby Jesus was placed in her hands.  What do I place in your hands or your tongue when you come to Mass?  I place the Holy Eucharist, Jesus!  Can you remember a powerful experience receiving the Holy Eucharist?  Or do you struggle with doubts about the Real Presence? 
 
 
 
St. Philip struggled with doubts.  John 14:8-10, “Philip said to him, ‘Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.’  Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip?  Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.  How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?’”  Yes, we struggle with doubts; doubts about the presence of God; doubts about the Holy Eucharist being Jesus.  Do you believe that the Holy Eucharist is Jesus?  The gift of faith has been placed into your hands.  We do not know the future.  I pray that Jesus will give you a second chance to attend the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  I beg Jesus for mercy that the public will be invited again to the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  The time to choose is now.  If you get a chance to receive the Eucharist, will you act like Mother Mary or want more proof like Philip?  If you get a chance to hold Faith Incarnate, will see Jesus or another object in the world, a piece of bread?    
On this Mother’s Day, be grateful for Mother Church who gives you a Precious Gift, the Holy Eucharist.  Look to the example of Mother Mary who never doubted that her son, Jesus, was God.  Be grateful to your spiritual Mothers and your biological Mother who have given you the chance to choose heaven, the chance to choose the Eucharist.