May 3. 5th Sunday of Easter A.  SEE.   Fr Sylvester invited all the men in church to stand up and then repeated the words of the 2nd reading from Peter, “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people.“  Then he added, “but these words are not for men, or priests, but for everyone, and in a unique way for mothers who play such an important role in families.  So let the mothers stand up so we can acknowledge them too. ‘You are a holy nation, God’s own people.’ We, every member of every family here present together through our baptism make up the holy nation, the royal priesthood in our homes, offering the sacrifices we make in our daily lives. We offer them together with Jesus in the Eucharist, making it a living sacrifice.   Do you really understand this,” he asked them and left them to think.  Let us prepare for Mother’s Day next week by keeping this in mind.  

JUDGE. Reflect, share, Scripture.    You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 1 Peter 2:9. Pope Francis:  Each of us has his or her own personal identity and is capable of entering into dialogue with others and with God himself.   Yet it would be mistaken to view other living beings as mere objects subject to arbitrary human domination.   When nature is viewed solely as a source of profit and gain this has serious consequences for society. LS 81-82.  Pope Leo: Any Church community if it thinks it can comfortably go its own way without creative concern and effective cooperation in helping the poor to live with dignity and reaching out to everyone will risk breaking down.   DT 112

ACT AND PRAY.Mary, Mother of all God’s children,   pray for us.