Let's Be Moms

With each act of love, you allow Christ to form and take shape within your womb, and to bring him safely into being. For “We are all called to be mothers of God for God is always waiting to be born.”

Well, it's another year. Which means I get to say Happy Mother’s Day to everyone who chose to be a mom.

​As my wife has taught me, this is not an easy choice to make because motherhood is no walk in the park.

When my son was little, he asked me if I knew who God’s mother was. A bold question for a minister’s kid to ask. Trying to spare him the torture of an impromptu sermon, I simply said, “You are.”

That wasn’t what he wanted to hear. And quickly reminded me that he was a boy…and boys can’t have babies.

I then reminded him that one doesn’t have to have a particular chromosome to bring God into the world.

But when that made him question my intelligence. I quoted some 13th century German mystic theology from Meister Eckhart who said, “We are all called to be mothers of God, for God is always waiting to be born.” 

​Then, when that didn’t work, I did what I knew best and began to preach. And this is the sum of what I said, “You and me, male and female alike, are called to carry in our bodies the very life of God.

​It’s our job to give birth to God’s incarnate love in all that we do.” It goes without saying, Sean doesn’t ask me these kinds of anymore questions anymore.
 
But I stand by my words. We should all be moms. In our reading today, Jesus begets a new kind of motherhood and new kind of family; one where kinship isn’t based on DNA, but it is tied to one particular bloodline. Here's what John had to say (John 19:25-27).

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.                     -  John 19:25-27  -

​Mother’s Day is one of those holidays’ ministers try to avoid because it can bring up a whole gamut of emotions. Some joyful. Some painful. For every woman being celebrated by their children today, there is another who is barren, longing for a life within her own womb.
 
For every mother honored for her kindness and generosity, there is another whose children are coping with the abuse and pain there mom inflicted upon them.
 
For those who are excited to see mom in person today, there’s someone whose wishes they could pick up the phone to call theirs for a recipe or to hear her reassuring voice one more time.
 
Some moms show up for their child, no matter the need. And others who have given up theirs for one reason or another. Whether you like your mom or not, or had a good relationship or a painful one, you are here today because of her.
 
Of course, the Bible is filled with all kinds of mothers. There’s Eve, the mother of life. Sarah, the mother of the covenant.
 
Jochebed, the mother of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam taught us that sometimes we have to take risks for God and our faith. Or Naomi - who adopted her daughter in law Ruth. By bringing her into Israel’s bloodline Naomi reminds us that God belongs to everyone.
 
There’s also Bathsheba, who was forced into motherhood through rape. After losing that child, she will give birth to Solomon, a great king whose bloodline the Messiah would come from. Her story reminds us that Jesus comes from human messiness and not just for it.
 
And of course, the most famous of all mothers is Mary. The Bible doesn’t tell us much about Mary, but I believe she was only a young girl when God entrusted her to carry and care for the savior of the world. Mary is the one who gives Jesus his first taste of life and love. She teaches him how to serve and care for the world in all the ways she cares for him.
 
Watching her son be murdered, she experiences a pain greater than childbirth; a pain anyone any one of us can experience. Including John, the beloved disciple, who is with Mary. As he witnesses his teacher and friend suffering an agonizing death, John realizes, perhaps for the first time, the true cost of discipleship. And the depth of what it means to lay down one’s life for the other.
 
In his final act of love, Jesus redefines motherhood and discipleship. He tells his mother, “Woman, here is your son,” and to John he says, “Here is your mother.” And from that time on, John took Mary into his home and cared for her.
 
With one divine blessing a new kind of family is born. The church, the new body of Christ, conceived out of God’s incarnate love, comes into being. Together, his followers will share a new bloodline, and a new kind of DNA one that still remains alive and active right here, in this sacred space we call Anamesa.

With the blood of Christ pumping through its veins, and the Spirit of God filling its lungs the church takes on a life of its own and moves out into the world to continue what Jesus began in the many ways we give life to his love to a world that is still suffering and hurting…like Mary was on that horrible day.
 
Like we recently learned, faith isn’t only what we believe, but what we’re willing to do to comfort and care for all of God’s children. It’s in the many ways we love God, love others, and serve both that Christ comes alive in us and through us. Which is why we’re called to be mothers of God, because God is always in need of being born. The way we go about doing this is just as diverse as the kinds of mothers out there.
 
For every person who shows up with a snack, a tissue, a compassionate ear, or a lesson to learn, this day is for you. To everyone who shows up every day wearing the hats of an EMT, a gourmet chef, a chauffeur, maid, or mathematician; to those in the NICU and ICUs of life watching over us and keeping us safe – today is your day, and we honor you with our love.
 
To all the ones who show up to cheer us on and lift us up when we’re down, to those who are willing to be there when perhaps our own family can’t or won’t; to the ones who are always ready to open their homes and hearts us as if we were their own – today is your day, and we honor you with our love.
 
To all the mothers, male and female alike, whose hands cradle us, whose hearts love us, whose eyes watch over us, whose ears listen to us – today is your day. To anyone who stands up for what is right, demanding justice and leading us towards the way of peace, we honor you for showing up and showing us what incarnate love looks like.
 
You are the ones who give birth to God’s sustaining love, power, and presence in the world. You are the ones who carry Christ. With each act of love, you allow him to form and take shape within your womb, and to bring him safely into being. “We are all called to be mothers of God for God is always waiting to be born.”
 
From his cross, Jesus unites us all, and calls us into a new kind family. One where, like Mary, we are mothers and children at the same time. But we are also called to be disciples like John, who will risk it all for the sake of bearing the love of God.
 
From his cross Jesus makes us a part of his bloodline - brothers and sisters, mothers, and fathers, bearing the love of God inside us.
 
So, let’s be moms and lets carry God’s love to full term.
 
Work cited
Adapted from an original sermon, Mother’s Needed, (on May 8, 2016) and For Mothers Like Us (May 9, 2021).
Special Thanks to Rev. Wendy Van Tassell, who originally co-wrote parts of this sermon with me.