Loving God, as you opened the tomb and raised Jesus to new life, so open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit that as your Word is proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today, and in confidence go forth to live what you show us. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
There is a story about an event which happened some 200 years ago to the Reverend Samuel Rutherford.
Rutherford was the pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland. One evening a stranger came to the parsonage door and asked if he could stay for the night. The stranger was welcomed into the house. It was the custom for the minister and his family to have devotions at the end of the day and the stranger was asked to join in this family service, which he did.
After the pastor read the scripture for the day, each person was asked questions about the Bible. When the time came for the stranger's question, he was asked an easy one, "How many commandments are there?............"
The stranger quickly answered, "Eleven".
The minister was surprised at the man's ignorance and immediately corrected him corrected him by saying, "There are only Ten Commandments."
The stranger then replied, "Have you never then read, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another"?"
I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.
It's an incredible thing isn't it? This kind of love that Jesus asks us all to show?
It's an incredible thing isn't it, the kind of love that Jesus showed:
- the love that is represented and remembered today at this table......
- the love that gives life
- the love that is prepared to sacrifice everything for the one that is loved?
I think that the popularity of Mother's day in our society is linked to this kind of love.
All kinds of things can be said about the commercialism of mother's day but when push comes to shove - I think that for many people, this day is a celebration of the fact that the love we see in our Saviour is often found in the love of our mothers.
There is, of course, many sad stories that can be told about mothers, just as there are many sad stories told about fathers:
- how love was lacking,
- how pain was not soothed with a loving kiss
- how sadness was not brushed away with a tight hug
- how needs were not met with a word of guidance and a tender helping hand;
but still, all in all, the failures of mothers and fathers, grievous as they may be, should not be allowed to overshadow the simple reality that it is possible - in human form - to love as God as loves - to love as our brother Jesus loved us - and that we see this love so very often in our parents, sometimes a little, sometimes a lot.
As I was preparing this week and thinking about Mother's day and how to speak on it, it dawned on me that as Jesus gave his disciples the 11th Commandment he was doing it as a kind of last wish - the last words of advice - the final blessing as it were, for his disciples before his death.
At times such as these, times of last goodbyes, some people are gifted with the ability and the desire to summarize just what it is that they feel for those that they leaving, and just what it that they hope for them.
There was a tradition amongst the Hebrew people - as amongst many nations - that a person, when they felt death approaching, would gather their families together and make known to them their final wishes and give to them their blessing - as did Isaac, and Jacob, in the book of Genesis.
Of course, we do this kind of thing at other times as well. In less formal ways than that of the Last of Supper of Jesus, or the death bed blessings of Isaac and Jacob.
We do it often one on one in our family relationships, father to son, mother to daughter, sister to brother.
There is a special moment of sharing - or simply some sage words of advice given, advice that is meant to be really heard and to be taken to heart as a guide for all of living.
I am sure each of you here has been on the receiving end of such advice giving - and many of you have given it.
I always associate such moments, as a receiver of life abiding wisdom, with my Godmother - though for some of you it may be your father, or a step parent.
My adopted Godmother gave me, on several occasions, two key words of counsel, two major teachings by which she hoped I would live my life.
She would say: "My hope for you is that you will be happy all your days" and "In all that you do, try not to hurt other people"
She would say this in different ways.
For example if I was being hounded by my Godfather about what I intended to do when I grew up if I was going to go to university - and get a real job and all those kinds of things that we so often lay upon other people, especially our children, or Godchild, when they do not seem to be living "up to snuff", my Godmother would find opportunity some time later to say: "It doesn't matter what it is you do - as long as you happy in it and it isn't harming someone else."
Good words. Shared in love. Often shared at a time when I really needed some words of grace and encouragement.
I imagine that each of you can recall some such encouraging words, thoughts shared for your sake rather than for the sake of those uttering it - thoughts that got at the essence of your life - your spiritual, well being rather than the superficial things of career or education or money making ability - things which often are the reflection of the hopes of the speaker, rather the hopes of those listening....
That is where my mind moved this week as I considered the Gospel text that Jacqueline read, and the fact that we would honour mother's in midst today.
Now there are many fine things that could be said about mother's here today and fine examples drawn from the bible of what a good mother is, but I am not going to preach at you like that today.
Nor am I going to lift up before you some wonderful stories or poems or definitions of motherhood.
Rather, I am going to leave each of you to consider what kind of spiritual
advice did your mother or your father or a step parent give you for the
living of your lives?
And whatever that is if it was anything at all I want you to give thanks to God for the care that for you that was revealed in the fact that this counsel was given - whether the counsel was good - or not so good - it shows loving intention - indeed loving reality.
And then, thanks having been given for the counsel that you have received, I want you to do one more thing and think of the advice that you would give to a young person - today, be it to your most precious son or daughter, to your dearest nephew or niece, or to the teenager that you have taken under your wing, or the kids that you coach, or teach, or perhaps - if this is how God has arranged your life - simply to another adult, a friend, someone whom you believe your words may help.
What single - most important - thing would you say to them to help them live their lives? What single - most important thing have you in fact said - perhaps over and over again?
It doesn't matter what it is you do - as long as you happy in it and it isn't harming someone else.
Live and let live.
Look on the bright side of things.
Chase your dreams.
Be good.
Work hard and play hard.
Don't lie, cheat, or steal.
What is it that we tell people - that we tell those we love - is the most important thing we wish for them? That we hope that they will do and be?
As you are thinking about this I want to share with you a couple of quotations from a book entitled, "Dear God: Children's Letters To God" by David Heller:
Dear God, Thank you for my parents, my sister Anita, and for my grandma and grandpa. They are real warm and special. I forgive you for my brother Phil. I guess you didn't finish working on him - Sean
Dear God, You light up my life. So do mom and dad. I hope you like this. I am not sure what it means. Luv, Toni
Dear God, Girls are weird. Except for my mom. Love you, Timmy
Dear God, My mom and my father are divorced. For 3 years. Nobody's perfect. But why did you pick us? I wish we were all with each other. Maybe you could have them get along on weekends. Please, Stephen
Dear God, Do you think there's enough love today? I feel there's a shortage. Love, Ken......
I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.
My hope for all of you today - my hope for me is that you and I may indeed love as Christ loved - and still loves - us. For in him - and in God above is found all that makes life worthwhile. In him is the hope of the world. And through him comes that which gives life both now and eternally.
May His name be praised day by day. Amen!
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