A Sermon preached on Easter VI May 14, 2023 at St. Augustine’s, WI
Acts 17:22-31, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21
There are several special days in the calendar that focus on showing one’s love to others. Valentine’s Day is one of them, Mother’s and Father’s Day are others. Though my favourite special day is “Buy a Priest a Beer Day” – this year on September 9 …. Write it down 😊
Recently my (church nerd) Facebook feed has been full of dire warnings to avoid incorporating Mother’s Day in the Sunday service, making it sound even more dangerous for the preacher than preaching on Trinity Sunday. The reasons given for avoiding it are both its secular and commercial origins (well goodbye Christmas) and much more importantly because of its potential for emotional harm. That is a real issue. Mother’s Day can be pretty tough for mothers who have lost their children, for women who wanted to become mothers but never did or could, for all those who have lost their mothers, and for those who had a complicated relationship with their mother. There is a shadow side to every celebration, and we need to acknowledge that. So, when we pray today for mothers – including those who have been as a mother to others – we also include all those for whom a day like today is tinged with some sadness.
But Mother’s Day is not just a secular or commercial holiday. The first American Mother’s Day actually took place in the context of a service of worship, in 1907 at Andrews Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. And Mothering Sunday – the British version that we celebrate during Lent – has a religious origin being originally a day when one returned to one’s mother church. And it is not a coincidence that so many countries celebrate Mother’s Day in the month of May - a month that the Catholic Church has set aside the to honour Mary, Mother of God, and a tradition dating back to the 13th century.
Another good reason for recognising Mother’s Day in our service is that the Bible also uses maternal images when speaking of God’s and Jesus’ love. God is not just Abba, Father!
Isaiah wrote that God is a mother to us, comforting and carrying us: “As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you.” (Isaiah 66:13) He also wrote that God will never forget us, as God knows each one of us just as a mother knows her own children: “Can a woman forget her nursing-child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.” (Isaiah 49:15) The author of Psalm 131 wrote that in God’s presence, he was quiet and at peace, trusting his God: “I hold myself in quiet and silence, like a child in its mothers’ arms.” (131:2) And Jesus spoke of himself as a mother, longing to wrap his arms around just like a mother-hen: “How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings …” (Matthew 23:37)
In today’s readings we heard parental, if not maternal images. Paul referred to us as “God’s offspring” (Acts 17:29) and even more movingly Jesus promised his disciples “I will not leave you orphaned.” (John 14:15) We are God’s children and God’s love, unconditional, unquestioning, sometimes strict, but always with our best interests at heart is like that of the ideal parent. We are created for and out of love as Julian of Norwich, whose feast day it was this week, says of God, “He made all things for love, by the same love keepeth them, and shall keep them without end.”[1]
The Gospel reading especially invites us to know and feel divine love present in our lives. “I will ask the Father,” Jesus says, “and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16-17). “You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be with you.” Many of the meanings of the word Paraclete, translated here as advocate, remind us of what a good mother or father does for their children: advocate, helper, comforter, defender, teacher, and loving protector. This Spirit of truth is also the Spirit of love. As Paul writes to the Romans, “God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (Rom. 5:5)
If we truly know and feel divine love present in our lives we should show and share it, every day, not just on “special days” when we are reminded of our filial, maternal or paternal duties, and not just when it’s easy, when our children, parents, or neighbours are particularly lovable! That is why it is a commandment, something we must do even when it is difficult, even when it is a challenge and a struggle.
Jesus says: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) and “They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” (14:21) The commandment to love – Jesus is referring to his new commandment (John 13:34) “to love one another; as I have loved you” and by doing so to be seen and be known as his disciples - is both a sign of love and a source of love. Parental love points to divine love, but divine love goes way beyond even what those who nurture and care for us can show.
This love, the love of Jesus is what should be revealed through us every day of the year, just as Jesus and the Father love us every single hour of every single day. Knowing how difficult this is for us on our own, we are given the Spirit, the Advocate, the divine presence that enables us to be God's loving presence in the world. It is the Spirit within us that enables us to accomplish that task of doing "greater works" that we already heard of in last week’s Gospel reading. It is the Spirit within us that helps transform us to share more fully in the life and love of God.
Let me finish with a beautiful song[2] written by St. Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury in the 12th century. It brings together the themes of motherhood on the one hand, and divine love on the other.
Jesus, as a mother you gather your people to you:
You are gentle with us as a mother with her children;
Often you weep over our sins and our pride:
tenderly you draw us from hatred and judgement.
You comfort us in sorrow and bind up our wounds:
in sickness you nurse us,
and with pure milk you feed us.
Jesus, by your dying we are born to new life:
by your anguish and labour we come forth in joy.
Despair turns to hope through your sweet goodness:
through your gentleness we find comfort in fear.
Your warmth gives life to the dead:
your touch makes sinners righteous.
Lord Jesus, in your mercy heal us:
in your love and tenderness remake us.
In your compassion bring grace and forgiveness:
for the beauty of heaven may your love prepare us.
Amen.
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