Listen to this sermon HERE.
How did you like Jesus’ Mothers’ Day Prayer? Did you catch that prayer? I often struggle with parts of John’s Gospel, because I think it’s hard to follow some of Jesus words… “I in them and you in me and we one and they one I in them you us we he they…” I loose track of all those pronouns. But here’s the bottom line of the loving prayer that Jesus prays: that Christ is in and with us, and that we are together.
And what good mother doesn’t want that?
It’s been something I’ve heard from many of our mothers: Mothers want the family to be together, in peace, and they want to be there too. I heard from a few mothers this week, say, “I don’t want any ‘thing’ for Mother’s Day, I just want us to be together, I just want us all to be together.” And then clarified, “I don’t want to be sent away from the family, to a spa for the day or a retreat alone or even with a friend: I just want us all to be together.”
Of course there’s no “just” about it, like it’s something easy or flippant. It’s a bold desire. How hard it is for families to come together, even when it’s possible physically. So much strife amid families, so much history, and pent up bad/sad memories. So many ongoing disagreements...on philosophies of parenting, or on politics or religion, or life choices. It’s so hard to “just” be together, in peace, isn’t it…
And yet the good moms of this world continue to call us back together — not idly and dreamily, but boldly and lovingly, calling us back to the fold, back to the community, back to the earth, back to a healthy life and a full life and a life together, like New Testament prophets encouraging us: stay together brothers and sisters in Christ, live kindly and peaceably with one another. Love one another.
This is what Jesus prays for us today...and far beyond just our immediate family to come together. Jesus prays (boldly not dreamily), like so many of our loving mothers, “I want the family to be together, in peace, and I’m going to be there too.” I’m not going anywhere, Jesus says to us. Don’t send me off to some spa or retreat in the clouds. I’m staying right here with you, no matter what you have to say about. I’ll be here in bread and wine, water and word. I’ll be here in the face of both friends and strangers alike. I’m not going anywhere, Jesus says. Like a good mother.
Christ. Is. Here. Today. Loving us. Praying for us. (Not sure we think of Jesus praying for us, but here it is, today in the Gospel of John.) And Christ isn’t going anywhere. Praying that we come together.
I want to shift over to this First Lesson that Dusty/Brad read from Acts...because there we have some pretty graphic imagery of family not coming together, of family bickering, not just that, but family hurting each other: great story from Acts!
Paul and Silas...get annoyed...cast out “the spirit of divination”...upset the business establishment...upset the way things are done. That’s Part 1 of this account.
Then they get thrown in prison. And here’s where we see glimpses of our mothering God working and bringing the most unlikely of people together: the prisoners and the prison guards. My friend’s dad was a prison guard (Lee E. was a prison guard), and I’ve heard and can certainly imagine that it’s rough in there. That’s understatement, right? And yet the other stories I’ve heard, kindnesses that take place, perhaps few and far between. Perhaps not. That’s the Spirit working in the unlikeliest of places. People coming together. And that’s what happens in this reading for today. Paul and Silas (the prisoners), befriend and even baptize the prison guard and his whole household!
And you can see Mothering Jesus‘ prayer almost hovering over this whole scene. Like with brothers and sisters finally reconcile after all these years. Have you ever seen this in your own life? It’s rare. But when peace finally settles into a family’s dynamic, it’s no small moment. When after years of being at each others throats, calling each other names, arguing and fighting, or going long spells without ever even talking, when finally peace comes and settles into a family’s dynamic, it’s no small thing. And there’s Mother’s prayer, Jesus‘ prayer for unity and peace and presence, hovering over the whole scene. What a gift. Pure grace.
Sisters and brothers in Christ, Children of the Heavenly Mother, God is here, and God’s not going anywhere. God through Christ prays for us today. Prays for peace, longs for us to reconcile with one another, to forgive one another, as we have been forgiven. I always say, “That’s the big question, isn’t it: HOW’S FORGIVENESS GOING FOR YOU?” God is here as we struggle with that question, holding us like a strong mother, rocking us, reading to us, calming us down. As we struggle to shed our anger and our resentment, our bitterness and our remorse. Christ isn’t going anywhere, off to a heavenly spa in clouds. Christ is right here with us as we struggle. Christ is right here with us in our pain, in our loneliness (some, Mother’s Day is not a sweet, pretty day at all—it’s a very hard day), Christ is right here in our both in our joy and especially in our sorrow. This God knows pain, like a mother knows pain when her children fall. This God knows pain and comes and waits (and wades) with us through our pain. This God holds us, and gives us hope, gives us peace. And we are made one; we are together...this day.
BLESSING OF OUR MOTHERS
All mothers or motherly figures in our congregation are invited to remain seated while the assembly lays hands on them in prayer.
You have prayed over us, let us pay over and bless you...
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Mothering God, pour out your blessing on all mothers and those who provide motherly care.
You have made them in your image and given them children to love and care for in your name.
Bless them with a heart like your heart: loving and kind, comforting and strong, nurturing and grace-filled. As they participate in your ongoing creativity, give them discernment to help their children discover their unique gifts.
As they teach their children, grant them wisdom to know what is truly valuable. As they strive to share your unconditional love, give them long-suffering patience and a lively sense of humor.
As they model your mercy, help them extend the forgiveness they themselves freely receive from you.
In all circumstances fortify their faith, that they may love you above all. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
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