Today is the Fourth Sunday in Lent, traditionally celebrated as Mothering Sunday. It’s also a special day for other reasons, but I will come to that in a moment.
A Difficult Day for Some
I ought to acknowledge, however, at the start, that Mothering Sunday can be a difficult day for many:
- It may renew the grief over the death of your mother
- It may renew your grief over the loss of a child
- It may renew your grief that you were never able to be a mother.
- It may, for some mothers, who feel they don’t fit the expectations of society or the church as mothers, bring a sense of isolation or even guilt.
- It may, for others (especially the men here this morning), feel as if the day has nothing for you.
However, I hope that if you find yourself in any of these categories, or others I have not mentioned, you will find that today is also for you. Sometimes God may speak to particular individuals, or speak to biblical ideals, and you may feel left out or that you don’t fit. But, even when it’s not directed at us, God’s Word has something for each and all of us. And, when we feel we do not fit, or meet God’s expectations and ideals, we can discover that, in Jesus, God’s truth is always accompanied by his grace.
Let’s Ground this In God
Let me start, therefore, by grounding this day in God himself. The Bible speaks of God as Father and there are all sorts of reasons for that, but we know that God is more than we understand by the description ‘Father’.
In the beginning he made humanity in his image; and he made them male and female. His Image is not male or female, but male and female. There is something about God that cannot be displayed in male or female only, but only in a unity of male and female; a unity that requires that each of us fully realises what it is to be male or female.
And, though God is not often referred to in scripture as Mother, God is shown as a mother in many ways. Our reading from 2 Corinthians, for instance, mirrors the motherly care of God that we also here in Jesus as he longs to gather his recalcitrant children under his wings like a mother hen.
So, ladies (mothers) I want you to see all that you are as grounded in the character of God, as you image forth his character in your life.
The Agency of Women in Scripture
I could also say something about the vital agency of women in scripture; from the women who changed history (like Deborah, Rahab, Esther, and Mary). But there were many more, often whose names we do not know, who were equally instrumental as mothers. It is interesting to see how many of the ‘good’ Kings in Israel were as they were because of their mothers.
There is a whole stream of history and truth in scripture that is not highlighted enough. But we have three scriptures this morning, and I want us to see what they are saying, without being too side-tracked.
Today’s Readings
Let’s look at the readings set for Mothering Sunday.
2 Corinthians
In 2 Corinthians, “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort”, brings together what we might see as the fatherhood and the motherhood of God. Mercy speaks of a holding back of judgement, but Comfort speaks of a granting of help and love in a way that epitomises what it is to be a mother.
So, again, I want you to see, what you are and aspire to be as mothers, as coming from God, bearing his image and glorifying his name in your life.
But, the scripture does not stop there. It also speaks of the cost of such love and comfort. The ability to comfort, itself comes from suffering and being comforted yourself. Note, it’s not just suffering – we are familiar enough with that – but suffering that finds its comfort in and from God.
And, in this there is a sharing in the suffering and comfort of Christ himself. The link, and sharing in Christ, is so intimately woven that Paul can be confident of our comfort because we are sharing in Christ’s suffering.
There can be few mothers here, if any, who do not recognise suffering as mothers in their lives. I hope there are also few who do not recognise God’s comfort.
Exodus and Moses
Then, in our Exodus reading, there is another reality for us to recognise.
A mother’s instinct is to comfort and protect – to gather your chicks under your wings. But, God calls us to something else as well. Jochebed, Moses’ mother, had to let go of him – into the waters of the Nile, but also and more importantly, into God’s hands. Her older daughter waits to see what will happen, but for Jochebed, it is a real letting go.
Mothers also need to let go, to let their chicks fly the nest, but I think that there is more than this going on here. To me, it looks more like baptism. In baptism there is a symbolic reality of death and rising to new life. But, for a child (like Moses), and for a mother (like Jochebed) who has just produced this new life – from her very self – it is particularly demanding.
It speaks of holding this new life – life from you – and recognising that it is not yours. So, you let go of it into God’s hands. And, Like Moses, you receive it back to care for, but now not as your own, but rather as God’s child. It is a powerful and dramatic display of an awesome truth for Mothers. These children are not your own, but God’s.
And, there will come times when it is not about letting them fly the nest, but coming to the end of your own capacity to be a mother – and letting them go into God’s hands (and theirs, in God). Perhaps through ill health, or circumstances, or their own choices; whatever, it is a hard lesson to learn, and you need scriptural examples, like Moses, to give you courage and faith.
Jesus, Mary & John
And, then, we have this strange reading from the Cross. Strange, I say, not because Jesus is showing care for his mother, but because Mary already has other sons who could look after her. Why does he giver her into John’s care?
I don’t really know. But I think it might be because, at that stage, Mary’s other sons had not yet come to believe in Jesus. Up until then, they (and Mary) have only appeared trying to rescue Jesus from himself – to which Jesus responds by declaring that his Disciples are his real family. After his resurrection, Jesus would appear to James (the oldest of these step-brothers) and he would believe and become a key member of the Jerusalem church, but now Mary needs a faithful Christian to care for her.
What this highlights, perhaps, is Mary’s vulnerability. Though she would put many of the Disciples to shame, when they ran away whilst she stayed and watched at the foot of the cross – yet she was still vulnerable. We all need to know our vulnerability (men and women). But, in a society where women can be expected to have it all and do it all, perhaps it is particularly important to recognise that this pressure does not come from God. He cares for us and puts us in families and, ladies especially when you are not part of a Christian family, you need to hear this.
It’s a difficult reality for us to talk about, and it has implications for men and women, but motherhood brings particular vulnerabilities and – perhaps – requires (in God) particular relationships of mutual care.
Celebrating and Giving Thanks – with Understanding
So, our readings remind us, as we celebrate mothers and give thanks for them, that we need to do so with understanding. We can’t just let society shape our view of motherhood, or celebrate it as simply as ‘motherhood and apple pie’. We need God’s light, his word, to renew our thinking and direct our hearts.
Which, as we celebrate and give thanks, brings me to my final point.
A Special Day?
I said that today was also a special day for other reasons. We have special days, like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day etc. to highlight needed realities. So, this Sunday is also special for two other reasons:
Did you know that it is Bring your Bible to Church day?
Have you brought your bible with you today? Perhaps you didn’t know it was Bring your Bible to Church day. It’s not enough to hear the readings (or have them in the pew sheets) you need to see them in your Bible – to hold them yourself and take them with you when you leave.
This is so important that we have Bring your Bible to Church day. It’s so important that we have it every Sunday.
Today it doesn’t matter if you did not know and have not brought your bible. We have Pew Bibles you can use. And, if you don’t have one we can supply one to you – we love to supply people with Bibles – only one condition, that you bring them to church when you come.
Did you know that it is also Bring the Holy Spirit to Church day?
Did you know that?
Jesus promised to be with us (by his Spirit) when we meet together – even just two of us. His Holy Spirit is with in many ways, us when we meet, but principally because he is in us – we bring him as we meet and recognise him on one another. How else are we going to worship, or hear, or encourage one another – we’re useless without him.
This is so important that we have Bring the Holy Spirit to Church day. It’s so important that we have it every Sunday.
And again, it doesn’t matter if you did not know and have not brought him. We have the Holy Spirit for you as well (not just Bibles) – we love to supply people with the Holy Spirit – only one condition, that you bring him to church in you when you come.
Mothering Sunday
To day we are celebrating Mothers and Mothering Sunday. We can’t do that without his word to guide and inspire us and we cant do it without his Spirit to enlighten and empower us. So I am glad to celebrate all three special days as one.