Mothering Sunday

We have come to the fourth Sunday in Lent which is traditionally known as ‘Mothering Sunday’, the day we remember with love our mothers.  We dedicate this service to them, for we will all have fond memories of our mothers, even though many years have passed on.  

 

This tradition originated in the 17^th century, when most of the population would attend Church, usually to the Church at which they had been baptised .  People would walk to Church, when  going to Church was a Sunday normality; some would carry flags and banners. Girls in domestic service would bake simnel cakes as presents, and would be given time off by their employers to visit their mothers.. 

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In the United States, President Woodrow Wilson passed an Act of Congress in May 1914. declaring that the second Sunday in May, should be known as ‘Mothers Day,’ in order that love and reverence for mothers could be shown.   Retailers and non-Church members in this country, have adopted that title to make money, rather than the English understanding of the religious significance.

 

Let us turn to the Bible, as we acknowledge the love for our mothers. God having created the earth, with all its elements and animals, then created man.  He then saw that man was lonely, and loneliness can lead to depression.  God saw that man needed a companion, so gave woman as man’s helper; someone who can be at man’s side, who will give life more meaning, pleasure and support; someone to love and cherish.    God has now made two people, man and woman, Adam and Eve

 

  We must accept that God knows best, and when he wanted man to have a companion, He made a woman as the perfect answer, someone who could complement man in every way, physically and mentally, in a way other men could not, and men throughout the ages have appreciated and recognised woman as the greatest of gifts. God wanted to supply what was lacking in man’s life, and together they could have children, and create the ideal family. God planned the human heart to love, marry and have children. 

 

When God made the world, He intended man/woman to have different characters to fulfil different functions in life, equal in every respect, but not the same. .  It took the 2oth century, in the so called name of progress and equality, to pull women down to make them like men, and some to be of the coarsest of men.  God intended them to be mothers, and motherhood to be of the highest calling, and endowed them with special gifts.    

  Motherhood is a special privilege and a sacred duty. The great American President, Abraham Lincoln, once remarked, that no nation is greater than its mothers, for they are the makers of men.  The Rabbis have a saying, ‘God can’t be everywhere so He made mothers.’   

A mother's love is special and unique, and God gave woman a special and caring nature for His purpose.  Today we have the ridiculous and offensive suggestion, that children can be raised by two men after some woman, known or unknown, has provided the child by some means.  An American psychologist stated a child will never come to full development psychologically without a mother in the home.  A family is only a true family with  man, woman and child(ren) To-day it is the target for left-wing and other activists, for if the family is destroyed their philosophies and ideologies can be adopted.

A mother’s presence in the home is essential, and there has never been a more urgent time when good mothers are needed.  I have worked in every social classes of society, but have never known a Jewish child get involved in anti-social behaviour or criminal activities.  I once asked a Rabbi why he thought this was so, and .he told me it was due to the control the Jewish mama has over her family.

The foundation for every home is a father and mother (of different sexes) and the breakdown of  family life and influenced is reflected in the breakdown of the nation’s morality.  It is now unrealistic to expect marriage to be for life, but rather until we get fed up with each other.

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The emancipation of women began with Christianity 2000 years ago, when Mary received a message from an angel, and was told she would be the only woman ever to wear the red rose of maternity with the white rose of virginity, and be the mother of the Saviour of the world.  When her Son grew up, He gave women a new place in human relations, with a dignity that wherever Christianity has gone, women have been respected

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Female politicians have tried to turn this upside down, and in the false name of equality, have made some women to adopt the worst practices of men.  For 2000 years women had in many respects been superior to men,  but in  the cause of equality and feminism, have adopted the worst vices of men.   

 

The Bible calls on older women, who have an honoured place in society, to play a major part in guiding younger women in the bringing up of children from their years of experience.  We must have concern for women bringing up children in a world where all moral values are being eroded.  Theirs is a big responsibility, especially when the nation’s broadcasting system gives out such foul talk and explicit scenes, that cause weaker minds to think that is the natural way of life.

 

We need women who will lead their families back to more old style morality, decency and purity.  Children are being brought up without any religious knowledge, knowing nothing about Jesus or Biblical characters, even in the homes of whatever class of home.  An idealism prevails as to how children should behave, but it is often a source of admiration and being in  modern phraseology ‘cool’, for a child to be sexually aware.  Schools play little part in educating children in religion or conduct unless the school is a private one.

 

Spiritual matters should be of concern to mothers.  Promises are made at baptism services that children will be brought up in the fellowship of the Church, although few have ever any intention of honouring the promises made.  When my two sons were growing up my then occupation required me to be away from the home for many long hours, and so much care fell upon my wife.  It is to her credit, that they both entered the Christian ministry after being youth leaders at their local Church.  Today, they are successful Vicars at Churches of their own, where they have been a powerful influence in the Churches they have served. 

I would encourage every mother to teach their children the stories of Jesus, and other stories from the Bible, it will give them a sure foundation for life.  To bear a child is a costly and sometimes very painful act calling for endurance sometimes beyond the mother herself.  Mothering Sunday calls on us to remember it is the giving of oneself. 

 

Mothers continue to care and worry for their children even when they reach adulthood. It is mothers who have the unique ability to forgive their children, and make excuses, even when they commit criminal and other kinds of offences.

 

We have numerous examples of godly mothers in the Bible, as an example for us to follow such as the mother of James and John, who sought favour for them from Jesus, Sarah, Rachel, Hannah, Elizabeth Salome, and of course above, all Mary the mother of Jesus, who God called to be the mother of His Son, and chose a young Jewish village girl, not some celebrity.  

 

Women have been asked on radio and television what their occupation was , and have replied, ‘only a housewife and mother’.  There is nothing to justify the word ‘only’, such is a  most honourable and worthy occupations.

 

At such an emotional time, let us also  remember and have our hearts go out, to those women who have been denied the opportunity of having a child, for whatever reason. We should feel sadness for those mothers who have lost  child by whatever means, and for those mothers whose children have been unfaithful or unkind to them.

In closing I Hope that every one who reads this  sermon, when thinking of their mother, will also  remember with love and gratitude, that our mothers endure pain reaching to the doors of death to give us birth.

 

May God richly bless all mothers.