HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY !!!!!
The Second Sunday of the month of May is observed as Mother’s Day in most parts of the world. We hold special services in our Churches in honor of Mothers. We try to honor our mothers in every possible way. In some churches, mothers conduct the Worship Service. They share their thoughts with the congregation. The Priests offer special prayers for Mothers. The Church felicitates them. Overall, it is a Sunday dedicated to Mothers.
A Mother is a vital part of a Family. She keeps the family together individually and collectively through her love and actions. Her love is the purest form of Love. Many times, her dedication is overlooked or taken granted. The Wise man asks us not to forsake our mother’s teaching (Proverbs 1:8). Moreover, our faith is being passed down to us through our mothers. Ephesians 6:2 reminds us to honor our parents so that it may go well with us. Exodus 20:12 says, honor your father and your mother and you will have a long life. This is the only commandment with a promise.
This Mothers day, the words of Jesus from the cross attracts my attention. “Woman, behold your son! …then he said to the disciple, Behold your mother!” John 19:26. Jesus is handing over His mother’s responsibility to His beloved disciple John. Now, let us note one important thing, no other gospel except the gospel of John records this saying of Jesus. As we know, the purpose of the gospel of John is, but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that believing you may have life in His name”. (John 20:31).
Jesus was fully aware that His mother was becoming old and needed a support and that He was not going to be with His mother in her old age. That’s the reason, even at the point of death, Jesus was shouldering his responsibility to his beloved and trusted disciple John, and this is an expression of honor and respect towards His mother, in its purest form. I imagine Jesus saying, “John! please take care of my mother, she has suffered a lot at my birth, no one gave her shelter in the inn and so she birthed me in a manger, she wrapped me in swaddling bands and made a cozy bed for me. (Luke 2:12). John, she is the one who lifted me in her bosom when we escaped to Egypt in the “night”. (Matthew 2:14). Now, I am dying on this cross for the sins of entire mankind, including, this Woman, my mother. I am going ahead to secure a place for you all in Heaven”.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, always acknowledged that she was just another human being with no divine powers. (Luke 1:38, 46-49). At the wedding at Cana, when there was a situation, she told the servants, “Do whatever He tells you”. (John 2:5). There are many believers of Jesus, and there will be many more, but Mary, the Mother of Jesus, undoubtedly, ranks first in the believers list. The incident at Cana, obviously depicts that, she truly believed that Jesus was the Son of God.
To sum up, Let us love one another with the love of Christ! Very popular scripture states, Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, Love does not boast, Love is not proud. Love does not dishonour others, Love is not self seeking, Love is not easily angered, Love keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love always protects, Love always trusts, Love always hopes, Love always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13). Now simply replace the word “Love” with the word “Mom” (Mummy, Mum, Mumma, Aai, Maa) and read it again. Isn’t it Amazing!!! We all have seen these traits in our mothers. Moreover, the wonderful fact is, we all, the whole human race has these traits, by default. But we are unaware of it. Remember, God breathed his breath in man. Yes, He breathed, all His goodness into us.
This Mother’s Day, let us explore our default settings and trigger the change to become more like our creator, whom we would face one day. (2 Corinthians 3:18). Let us persevere to become better everyday. Amen!
Alpana Jadhav
