10 May 2026 # HappyMothersDay
Tired of celebrating Jesus’ Resurrection yet (Eastertide)? Out of chocolate? Wine cellars nearing empty? Had to fill your gas tank because you sat in the DQ/Culvers line for hours on end? Does your face hurt from smiling so much? Hang in there… it’s two more weeks to Pentecost, the end of the Easter season. For now, though, this Sixth Sunday of Easter, we have some very interesting readings for our enjoyment and edification.
Our first reading from Acts of the Apostles gives us Baptism and Confirmation as separate sacraments. Baptism washes away our sin (a soul tattoo) and initiates us into the larger faith community of Christianity (spiritual family). What is interesting here is the small section of text between the first and second paragraphs (Acts 8:9-13). Philip has gone to Samaria in order to evangelize the good pagans of that area. He’s quite successful and baptizes a number of them. Later, Peter and John come to give the sacrament of Confirmation through the laying on of hands and the calling down of the Holy Spirit. What you don’t hear about is Simon the magician’s journey.
Simon is quite the popular figure in Samaria, honing his tricks of the trade and convincing the people that he is some sort of god. When Simon sees Philip healing and casting out demons not by trickery but by the power of God, he converts to Christianity and leaves his sorcerer life (mostly) behind. He has one momentary lapse - he offers to pay Peter money so that he too may lay his hands and send the Holy Spirit where he commands. Peter calls out Simon’s pride, he repents, and all is well. Interesting.
Some Christians – perhaps more than I care to admit – use their spiritual gifts for financial gain or personal honor. When you’ve been called by the Lord to a particular mission or profession and you are wildly successful, it’s easy to start thinking “it’s all about me” and “what I can did”…. instead of but-by-the-grace-of-God-go-I. It’s why I smile every time I hear an athlete praise the Lord in a post-game interview. It reminds me to do the same.
Our second reading has Peter writing a note of encouragement to the good - but persecuted – Jewish Christians in the Diaspora (living everywhere but Jerusalem). He knows they will suffer for the speaking about Jesus and living out the faith. He writes such words of wisdom: “It is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil.” That’s truth. And edifying to anyone who “suffers” for Jesus or the Catholic faith, whether it be financial, spiritual, social, or professional.
When you live by what you believe, people notice. People with power, sometimes. And they have the ability to deny a promotion, delay a transfer, exclude an important invitation, or shun a friendship. Peter (and Catholicism) teaches “that’s okay.” Or as St. Mother Theresa said in a speech about turning-the-other-cheek under persecution, “You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway.”
Finally, Jesus reminds us that we are not alone in our faith-filled journey. The Holy Spirit is always with us, giving us spiritual strength to observe the commandments and love-one-another-as-he-loved-us. What an amazing gift. What more could we ask for? #HappyMothersDay