Acts 16:9-15
Revelation 21:10-22 22:5 ( Series C. 6th Sunday of Easter, Mother’s Day) Ps. 67
John 14:23-29
There is an element of truth in this story. A plane landed after a long flight. The flight attendant explained that there was enough time for everyone to get off the aircraft and then reboard in 50 minutes. Everybody got off the plane except one gentleman.
The pilot had noticed him as he walked by. He could tell that the man was blind because his guide dog lay quietly underneath the seat next to him. "Sir", the pilot said to the blind man, "we will be here for almost an hour. Would you like to get off and stretch your legs?"
The blind man replied, "No thanks, but maybe my dog would like to stretch his legs." Picture this: All the people in the gate area came to a complete stand still when they looked up and saw the pilot walk off the plane with a guide dog! The pilot was even wearing sunglasses.
Fear took control. People scattered and queued at the airline desk trying to change planes! Fear is a normal human response. It is a part of every person’s life – perhaps more so in some people than others – but still everyone has to deal with fear at some time.
There are many things that can cause unexpected fear to grip our hearts. The fear of terrorist bombings has caused a massive security alert for the Olympic Games in Athens. The nuclear build up in North Korea has caused nations to fear the possibility of the use of nuclear weapons.
Mothers, fathers and children in Israel, Palestine, Iraq, and Darfur live in constant fear of another bomb blast or being caught in crossfire. We are afraid to leave our homes unlocked, or to walk in the dark at night.
We fear failure so we scramble to meet our tight schedules, duties and obligations. And where there is fear, there is no peace. Fear brings with it anxiety, worry, apprehension, dread, restlessness, panic and tension – none of which lead us to feel calm, peaceful, relaxed and stress-free.
On a different note, There is an ancient legend about two warring tribes in the Andes, one that lived in the lowlands and the other high in the mountains ...The mountain people invaded the lowlanders one day and, as part of their plundering of the people, they kidnapped the baby of one of the lowlander families and took the infant with them up into the mountains.
The lowlanders didn't know how to climb the mountains. They didn't know any of the trails the mountain people used. Consequently, they were unable to track the mountain people in steep terrain.
Nevertheless, they sent out their best party of fighting men to try to climb the mountain and rescue the baby. The lowlanders tried one trail, and then another. They tried one method of climbing, and then another.
After several days of futile efforts, and without success and feeling helpless and hopeless. The men decided that there was no use, their cause was lost, and prepared to return to their villages below. As they were packing their stuff for the descent, they saw the baby's mother walking toward them.
They realized that she was coming down the mountain that they themselves were unable to climb. And then they saw that she had her baby strapped to her back. How could that be?
One man greeted her and said, "We couldn't climb this mountain. How did you do this when we, the strongest and most able men in the village, could not?" She shrugged her shoulders and said, "It wasn't your baby!" This is Mother’s Love, the most powerful instinct in women.
A mother's love is so unconditional and exceptional that it is in a category by itself. Some give it it's own name. They call it " Motherlove." It is a degree of love that is only fully expressed by the love of a mother.
It is the kind of love that persists no matter what wrong is done to it. Even among wild animals, a mother will give her life to save her offspring. So people respond to that degree of love with an equally fierce loyalty.
When Jesus was told that his mother and brothers were looking for him, what did he say? He said, "who are my brothers and my mother? Those who do the will of my father are my brothers and sisters and mother." When we are baptized we are joined by the power of the spirit to a new family. In God's eyes, we cease to be John Doe and Jane Doe. And we become Samuel (put your name in here), we are known by our Heavenly Father. In most African cultures the older and experienced members of a family have the responsibility of raising and caring for the younger and inexperienced members. In that sense we are all parents to those who are growing in the faith around us. (Vitalis (Nigerian), who discipled me when I became a Christian in 1969, Maria Heuberger, in Kitzingen Germany, Maria Forum Jensen, Olgod ).
I give credit to many godly people who have help shaped my faith and believe in the living God in my Christian journey. I believe that in Christ we are all foster fathers and mothers for God's children. So today we honour all women in the church, because in God's eyes you are mothers all.
I remember the love and nurture of many of them. There was my own mother of course. Her example of faith, trust, and devotion to Jesus Christ had a great effect on me. She is one of the reasons I am a Christian and disciple of Christ today. But there were many others whom I eluded to earlier."Oh that sounds so sweet: All the women in the church are mothers." Not so fast!! Being a mother is hard. You don't know what you have gotten yourselves into. I don't know about being a mother, but I have had nineteen years of on the job training on being a father. It’s difficult; it’s hard work. It’s not all cuteness and smiles. It’s an awesome responsibility.
The image of God as Shepherd is a good example of this. God cares for us as a good shepherd. God provides for our every need. God takes us to green pastures and leads us beside still waters. And God protects us from wild animals that would devour us.
Like a mother God prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies. When others would flee, God remains steadfast. Providing for our every need. Just like a mother who stands by her child though difficult times.
Of course God's love is greater than any love a human can produce. "Motherlove" is only an analogy that helps us understand God's love. But it's a good analogy. It helps us understand how loving and giving God's love is. The most unconditional example of human love is a Mother's love.
About three years ago the nation was shocked as we saw pictures of four slain police officers gunned down by James Razor on his farm. When the media interviewed the gunman’s parents: the father referred to his son as the devil, but the mother called him my son. You see, the worse among us has a mother, my mother would say. Here is the obvious interplay of unconditional love of a mother.
To say that God loves us even more than that at least gives us a frame of reference. Jesus is the prime example of God's "Motherlove." In Jesus God died for his children. The ultimate expression of love is to give one's life for another. (John 15:13)
We need the insight to know what is true and good. We need the patience to persevere. We need the grace to be forgiven when little hands and feet do what they shouldn't. We need the faith to know that a point comes when we can't do anything and that it is all in the Lord's hands, and all we can do is to keep loving
Therefore I pray that we might all gain the insight into the power, which is our hope. There is a power that can overcome all that threatens our children. The source of this power is the glorified Jesus Christ.
When fears and worries create tension and upset your life, Jesus promises. "Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid."
Don't try to be a Christian mother without it. It is impossible. You can only succeed at being a Christian mother if your source of power is the one who ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God Almighty, Jesus Christ.
“Happy Mother’s Day”
Amen.
Rev. Samuel King-Kabu
May 13, 2007