Mother’s Day

While Mother’s Day falls on May 10th, the whole month of May is a great month to consider our relationship to our own mother as well as those in our life to whom we may relate to like a mother.  In scripture, God is sometimes referred to in a mothering way.  For example, in the following passages from Isaiah, “As a mother comforts her child, so will I [God] comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.” (Isa. 66:13)   And  “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I [God] will not forget you!” (Isa. 49:15)  Our God, whom we refer to quite often with gendered language, is also the God who creates men and women in the image of God and is thus the God of us all, and we are all born and live into God’s image, which is somehow simultaneously male and female.  

On May 10th when we gather for virtual worship, we come together with a variety of emotions to consider all that our Mothers may mean to us.  For some this consideration is made with happiness, for others there is pain, and for some ambivalence.  As a community, we have the chance to be family to each other, but one that is not only defined by blood.  Instead we have the opportunity to create relationships defined by the common bond of Christian faith and service to God.  I invite your reflection upon ways that we find community in our families of origin and in our faith communities.