Lesson's from today's homily.

Fr Stephen shared this joke with us today in his homily

"Three sons left home, went out on their own and prospered. Getting back together, they discussed the gifts that they were able to give to their elderly mother.
The first said: "I built a big house for our mother."
The second said: "I sent her a Mercedes with a driver."
The third said: "I've got you both beat. You know how Mom enjoys the Bible and you know she can't see very well. I sent her a brown parrot that can recite the entire Bible. It took twenty monks in a monastery 12 years to teach him. I had to pledge to contribute $100,000 a year for twenty years but it was worth it. Mom just has to name the chapter and verse, and the parrot will recite it."
Soon thereafter, Mom sent out her letters of thanks.
She wrote to the first son: "Milton, the house you built is too big. I live in only one room, but I have to clean the whole house."
She wrote to the second son: "Marvin, I am too old to travel. I stay home all the time, so I never used the Mercedes... and the driver is SO rude."
She wrote to the third son: "Dearest Melvin, you were the only son to have the good sense to know what your mother likes... The chicken was delicious."

I think it is a joke that will keep me laughing till Mother's day next week. More importantly though, is the underlying message of loving others as He has loved us. To consider if have we have shown our unconditional love to others. As in the joke, the greatest love does not equate the most expensive or most luxurious gifts. It can be just as simple as observing what your mom likes to eat. Simple it may be, yet it takes the commitment to make the effort to observe - and that's all it counts.