MOTHER’S DAY, 2024

I want to wish all the mothers in our parish a happy and joyous Mother’s Day. I hope you are properly celebrated by your family! Know of the prayers and esteem of your fellow parishioners.

The love on earth that most reflects the unconditional love of God is that of a mother for her child. A unique blend of biology and spirituality occur within the womb and produce a bond unlike any other. For most people, the love of their mother is the love that dwells most deeply in their heart.

Allow me a story.

When in law school, I worked with attorneys who defended men facing the death penalty. For the vast majority of our clients, the evidence of their guilt was daunting. We had to assume a conviction was probable and began work on the mitigation phase of the trial early. Basically, we attempted to construct a narrative of life for the jury to consider; an argument for not sending a man to death row. One of our clients was fortunate enough to be offered a plea bargain by the District Attorney, but he refused to consider it. He was hell-bent, it seemed, on going to trial, where he faced an almost certain conviction and death sentence.Nothing, it seemed could persuade him to choose life over death.

Finally, the attorney arranged for his mother (who was also in the Oklahoma County Jail on drug charges) to be brought down to the consultation area by her attorney at the same time our client was there. When he saw his mother, our client began to weep profusely. Because they were separated by thick glass, they couldn’t speak to each other, but she mouthed “take the deal” and “I love you” over and over. He accepted the deal and was spared death row.

I’ve never forgotten that moment. Even the most hardened of criminals has a mother somewhere who loves them. Such is the grace of our God.