Bottom line: As members of Jesus' Body, we work together in union with Jesus and our Shepherds. We do this concretely by taking part in the Annual Catholic Appeal. This year we will use that same Appeal to address some vital needs in our parish.

I want to begin by wishing all of our moms - and all of our spiritual moms - a Happy Mother's Day. Last weekend there was a world event (besides the beatification of Blessed John Paul the Great) - an event that underscores the attractiveness of marriage and family. I am sure many of you saw the royal wedding. It broke Internet records for concurrent views. Even more than President Obama's inauguration - or the World Cup. It's not just our fascination with royalty. In spite of all the cynicism in our fractured society, there's something about a wedding that touches us profoundly. Chesterton put his finger on it. He observed that we give our young people everything - except the one thing they want. We see it in their songs, even in what they post on Facebook. They want love, just any love - they want a beautiful love: a love that lasts, a love their bears fruit. Sure they hesitate - probably because of the example we have given them - but deep down they want a beautiful love. That's why the royal wedding riveted world's attention.

We see a beautiful love in our moms, as I said: both spiritual and physical. Today we honor them, we thank them and we pray for them. Here in our parish, the Knights have prepared a special Mother's Day Breakfast. We also have something else. To introduce it, I ask you this question: What is something that moms particularly desire? It is, of course, to have the home fixed up. At the end of the homily I will be introducing someone who will speak about the improvements we are making to our parish home - and how all of us can take part.

Our parish is a cell of the Body of Christ. We have the same DNA, the same identity, as every other part of Jesus' Body - and our health boosts the health of the entire Body. We see that in today's readings.

Peter proclaims the saving death and burial of Jesus. But, says Peter, Jesus does not remain in the grave. To make his point, Peter uses this argument: David died - you can see his tomb here in Jerusalem. If you open David's tomb, you will find his bones inside. On the other hand, if you go to Jesus grave, it is empty! Jesus is the one who fulfills David's prophecy: "nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption."

Jesus lives - soul and body. In the Gospel we see that Jesus himself builds up his Body, which is the Church. He does it first of all by showing us the meaning of the Scriptures. But most important: he takes bread, blesses and breaks it, then distributes it. At that point he vanishes from sight because now he is present in the bread itself - the Eucharist.

Jesus continues this work in our parish and our archdiocese. Today we learn more about ministry of Archbishop Sartain - who is the successor the apostles here in Western Washington. We support him each year by pledging to the Annual Catholic Appeal.

As members of Jesus' Body, we work together in union with Jesus and our Shepherds. We do this concretely by taking part in the Annual Catholic Appeal. This year we will use that same Appeal to address some vital needs in our parish. With a prayer in your heart, I ask you to give your full attention to...

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