NUCC
Easter 7
Mothers’ Day – Festival of the
Psalm 68
Acts 1:6-14
John 17:1-11
On this Mother’s Day we have heard our Sunday School pupils tell us what they learned about Peace during the past several weeks. They have sung peace songs. They have drunk peaceful tea. They have played peaceful games. And they have learned about peacemakers.
With thoughts of mothers and peace in my mind I read our scripture texts for the day through the lens of a “peaceful mother.” As I read Jesus’ words about leaving in John I could not help but think of the pain his mother must have felt as she came to the realization that Jesus would indeed be leaving her. Then as I read the account of Jesus’ leaving and the gathering of the first church, I came upon the last sentence:
“They…were…completely together in prayer, the women included. Also Jesus’ mother Mary, and his brothers.”
Jesus had just left his disciples. Two men had told them to quit looking up at the sky and look ahead. Then they went back to
Perhaps they needed a mother’s advice. We don’t know any of the details. All we know is that Mary, who had been there at the beginning when Jesus was born was here for another beginning when the church was born. I wonder what Mother Mary was doing there? Was she a leader of the early church or was she there to support and bless? Did she have words of advice or encouragement?
Our Roman Catholic friends have especially remembered Mary and named churches after her: Not just St. Mary’s Church ------ but churches particularly appropriate for this day: Mary Queen of Peace. And in
At the end of their time together, just before they went their separate ways, the world’s most famous Rock group, the Beatles, sang:
When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Might Mother Mary have some words of wisdom for us today, especially in this violent age of war and terrorism? Yes, we might ask, using the popular slogan of a few years ago: “WWMD” ------ What would Mary do? Especially as we join our Sunday School pupils in learning about peace.
- Would Mary join women peace activists in Code Pink, and march in protests to violence in
Colombia Iraq Palestine - Would Mary be a Gold Star Mother for peace, remembering sons and daughters who had died not only in times of war, but under bulldozers in
Israel South Africa - Would Mary be the proud mother of a Peace Corps Volunteer, supporting her child in a two-year stint of service in a developing land.
All of this is speculation. We don’t really know what Mary would do today on behalf of peace, but we do know what Mary did during her lifetime.
- As a young woman who discovered that she would be giving birth to God’s very presence, Mary was both obedient and defiant. She was obedient to God’s will and she was defiant of all the worldly powers dispensing poverty and subjugation. Just read the Magnificat.
- As a young mother Mary was a refugee from a tyrannical politician when she and her husband and young son fled to
Egypt - As a maturing mother Mary had to deal with a son who was separating himself from her to go out and explore the world for himself. Remember how a twelve-year-old Jesus stayed in the
Temple - As a mature mother Mary had to stand watch as her own flesh and blood was tortured and executed in a most gruesome fashion.
- Then as the mother of a hero she took her place in prayer with the leaders of the movement, ready for the future.
With such a perspective we ask: “What would Mary do?” What would Mary do today?
- Mother Mary would pray. Mary began her journey with Jesus in prayer and adoration of God. She began her life after his departure with prayer in solidarity with the disciples. Mary would pray with us. Mary would pray with us for peace and for our children. She would pray fervently for God’s holy peace.
- Mother Mary would be open to God’s still speaking voice. As she had been open to God’s surprising voice, she would encourage us to be open to God’s surprising voice ------ knowing that the place God takes us is not always filled with beautiful spring flowers.
- Mother Mary would help us to struggle with the tension of becoming separate and becoming connected. She knew that her son had to find his own way, just as you mothers today know that your children need to break out from your loving, yet sometimes smothering embrace, to discover the world on their own terms. She also knew that she had to be part of a community and would encourage us to stick with this community of hope and prayer and to make it an inclusive community. She would be proud of the United Church of Christ, which way back in 1944 when it was being birthed as a church, demanded that men and women be treated equally. She would remind us of the inclusive words her son had spoken about being connected with those at home, in school and all around the neighborhood, and all around the world. And then she would tell us to be at peace with one another. Yes, Mary might feel so connected that she would join a Million Mother March for Peace.
On this Mother’s Day we remember the most famous mother of all ----- Mother Mary. Queen of Peace. Mother to the Prince of Peace. What would Mary do? She would love us to Peace.
Amen.
