As we celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend, I wanted to share with you my all-time favorite story about mothers…

The harried young mother was beside herself when the telephone rang, and she heard with relief the kindly voice on the line, “Hi, sweetheart. How are you?”

“Oh, Mother,” she said, breaking into tears, “it’s been an awful day. The baby won’t eat, the dishwasher broke down. I tripped up the stairs and sprained my ankle. I haven’t had a chance to go shopping and the house is a mess. And, to top it off, we’re having company over for dinner tonight!”

“There, there, darling, everything will be all right,” the soothing voice on the line said. “Now sit down, relax, and close your eyes. I’ll be over in a half hour. I’ll pick up a few things on the way over and cook dinner for you. I’ll take care of the house and feed the baby. Also, I’ll call a repairman I know who will be at your house to fix the washer this afternoon. I’ll take care of everything. In fact, I’ll even call George at the office and tell him to come home early.”

“George?” the distraught housewife exclaimed. “Who’s George?” “Why, George…you know, George, your husband!” “But my husband’s name is Frank.”

A brief pause ensued, then the voice hesitantly asked, “Excuse me, is this 555-1758?” A tearful reply said, “No, this is 555-1788.”

“Oh, my, what a dreadful mistake,” apologized the embarrassed voice on the phone. “I’m so terribly sorry. I must have dialed the wrong number.”

Another brief pause before the would-be daughter asked, “Does this mean you’re not coming over.?”

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In today’s gospel, we have one of Jesus’ most comforting statements: “I will not leave you orphans.” Going back to the time of Moses, the Hebrew people were reminded, over and over, that they were to take special care of widows, orphans and aliens (or immigrants) because they had once been aliens in the land of Egypt. Think of how miserable life was for them, working as slaves on the Pharaoh’s building projects. When they cried out in despair, God heard their call and led them to freedom and a land of their own. But they were never to forget their historical roots and the mistreatment their ancestors had endured.

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Think of the wretched life of orphans portrayed in some of the world’s greatest literature. There’s Cosette in Les Misérables. She is forced to run errands, scrub floors, sweep yards, wash dishes, and carry heavy loads while dressed in rags and often going barefoot in the snow. Then there’s Harry Potter. Harry’s childhood was marked by emotional abuse, isolation, and constant fear. He was kept in a cupboard under the stairs in the Dursley home, fed poorly, and subjected to verbal and physical cruelty. You might also think of Oliver Twist, Jane Eyre, and Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables).

The people of the Bible were to be on the side of the underdog, taking care of widows, orphans and strangers. One of the most moving passages in the Old Testament is this, from the prophet Isaiah: “Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you. See, upon the palms of my hands I have written your name…” (Isaiah 49:15-16).

This passage is particularly moving because God is presented as something more than a mother. Even if a mother’s love fails, God’s love never will. Jesus says, “I will not leave you orphans.” Even when we have to face the greatest of challenges, when our present is iffy and our future uncertain; even if those closest to us let us down; it is then that we need to remember that we are never orphans. We are never totally alone, because our God is with us.

We, in turn, as followers of Jesus Christ, are called to make his values our own. Loneliness in our day is an epidemic. Many people are feeling like orphans, forced to face life pretty much on their own. Many live with uncertainty; many are losing hope. They need to know that the Lord is with them. And the most convincing way to do that is to let them know that we are with them. The Lord wants no one to feel orphaned—and he asks us to join him in this mission of love and compassion.