Thought for Today
Genesis 3:20 The man named his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all living.
Proverbs 15:20 A wise child makes a glad father, but the foolish despise their mothers.
Mark 3:34 And looking at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."
Acts 1:14 All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.
Yes, those are the same passages I referenced on Monday of this week. I began the week thinking about my own mother and about Mother’s Day. Tomorrow is Mother’s Day. I have thought much this week about my own mother. Greta and I both lost our mothers some years ago. My own mother died in 2007, some years before we moved to New England. One of my favorite pictures of Mom was taken at Christmas, surrounded by my own grandchildren.
My most endearing memories of my Mom are of her patiently calling out my elementary spelling words each week. I sat at the dinner table while she cleaned up after dinner. She would drill me until I could correctly spell each word on that week’s list. I was not and still am not particularly good at spelling; but, I aced every test, thanks to Mom. Until I reached high school, Mom also drilled me in math. Mathematics was not her favorite subject, yet she worked diligently to help make it my best and favorite subject.
I have often wondered whether Jesus had a favorite memory of his own childhood, of Mary’s patiently nurturing and encouraging. John relates an interesting story in his gospel about Jesus’ first miracle. “2:1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. . . . 3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ 4 And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ 5 His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’" I wonder whether years later Jesus chuckled at the memory of Mary’s unshakable faith in him. Ignoring any questions of whether or not it was time, ignoring his own protests, Mary confidently told the caterer, “Do whatever he tells you.”
I wrote on Monday, “God chose Mary to bear God’s Son. Recall the words of Mary’s cousin Elizabeth, "Luke 1:42 Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Some Christian denominations accord Mary special attention and honor. Hopefully, all Christians recognize the important part Mary played in nurturing and supporting Jesus as he grew and matured.
John also records in his gospel an indication of how much Jesus valued Mary. “19:26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’ 30 Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.” Even as he suffered on the cross, Jesus thought about Mary and her welfare. And, Luke tells us in Acts that Mary and Jesus’ brothers were part of the Followers of the Way after the Crucifixion and Resurrection. We know that one of Jesus’ brothers even became the leader of the congregation in Jerusalem.
Eve was the first mother; and, as I quoted Monday, “In human genetics, the Mitochondrial Eve (more technically known as the Mitochondrial-Most Recent Common Ancestor, shortened to mt-Eve or mt-MRCA) is the matrilineal most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of all living humans.” For me, implicit in that fact is the truth that since we all share a common ancestor, we are all related to each other. Differences in physical characteristics, differences in language, differences in diet aside, we are all relatives. Regrettably, like all families, some have to be considered ‘black sheep;’ but, we are all cousins.
This week and into the future, I pray that we can all make our common, maternal ancestor and our individual mothers proud by learning how to get along with each other peacefully. My mother worked very hard to make sure my siblings and I lived together peacefully . . . sometimes despite our own efforts to thwart her. As people, as tribes and as nations we need to work harder at being tolerant and kind to our relatives.
Stay safe, honor all mothers, trust God,
Pastor Ray