By Rev. Canon David B. Tabo-oy
“Do not be worried and upset,” Jesus told them. “Believe in God and believe also in me”. …Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me”.
-John 14:1,6
Mothers. Despite the circumstances of the extended ECQ let us make this Sunday be more soul-inspiring and invigorating as we celebrate with special thoughts and pay tribute to a wonderful creature called mother. ‘The closest love to God’s love is to witness the love of a good mother’, such is how one preacher summed up his thoughts on mothers. The immediate question that comes to mind would be, ‘what makes a good mother’?
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Perhaps this story written by American columnist and author Erma Bombeck could give us an idea what makes a good mother and how she came to be. Bombeck wrote, “On the day God created mothers, … he put in a lot of overtime, so much so that an angel said to Him, “Lord, you are spending a lot of time on this one.” But the Lord turned round and said, “Have you read the specification on this model? … She is to have a kiss that will heal everything from a broken leg to a broken heart. … She is to be able to function on coffee and tea and leftovers; and she is supposed to have six pairs of hands.”
“Six pairs of hands, that is impossible”, said the angel, “Yes, but it is not the six pairs of hands that bothers me”, said the Lord, “It is the three pairs of eyes. … She is supposed to have one pair of eyes that sees through closed doors so that whenever she says, `What are you kids doing in there?’, … she already knows what they’re doing in there”.
“She also has to have another pair of eyes in the back of her head to see all the things that she is not supposed to see, … but must see. … And then she has one pair of eyes right in front that can look at a child that just messed up, and communicate love and understanding without saying a word”.
“But that’s too much.” said the angel, “You can’t put that much in one model. Why do you not rest for a while and resume your creating tomorrow?”
“No, I can’t,” said the Lord. “I am nearly finished, as I have created someone like myself. … I have created a model who can heal herself when she is sick, … and feed a family of six with one pound of mince, … and who can persuade a nine year old to take a bath.”
Then the angel looked at the model of motherhood a little more closely and said, … “She is too soft”! … “Oh, but she is tough,” said the Lord, ”and you will be surprised at how much this mother can do.” “Can she think?” asked the angel. “Oh yes, she can think,” said the Lord, … “and she can also reason and compromise and persuade”. … Then the angel reached over and touched her cheek. “But this one has a leak”, he said, “I told you that you couldn’t put that much into one model”. “That is not a leak”, said the Lord, … “that’s a tear”. … “What’s a tear for?” asked the angel. “Well a tear is for joy, … it is for sadness, … it is for sorrow, for disappointment and for pride.” “You’re a genius,” said the angel, … and the Lord said, “Oh, but I did not put that there”.
The same preacher I quoted earlier gave specifics on how the love of mothers could be closest to God’s love, ‘…good mothers can be teachers or disciplinarians, … but they can also be nurses and doctors and psychologists and counsellors. … And good mothers are also developers of personalities, and shapers of attitudes; … and yet mothers can have soft voices that can say, “I love you”, with an affection that is a direct link to God himself. Good mothers are all of these things, and more.’
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“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me…” (John 14.1 ESV). Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (JTWTTTL).
Everyone dies. This morbid reality comes before us as the battle against COVID19 rages. We are informed daily by broadcast and social media of statistics of the infected and casualties of this war against the virus. And we cry fearfully, ‘who can spare us from this pestilence’? Maybe the same despair was at the hearts of the disciples as they listen to Jesus’ farewell discourse in that upper room on the night before his death on the cross. On that fateful night Jesus washed his disciples’ feet as an example of service and humility. He predicted his betrayal. He thought them the new commandment to love one another. And he foretold them of Peter’s denying him three times. These things have brought dread in the hearts of the disciples. Yet Jesus told them not to be worried and upset. He told them that he is going to prepare a better place in his Father’s house – that they too will join him because they know the way that leads to where he is going. Another cryptic message of Jesus and his followers silently pondered in bewilderment. Thomas blurted out their puzzlement, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; so how can we know the way to get there?” Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me” (Jn. 14:6).
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Sin has created a great gap between us and God. We cannot by ourselves be able to cross that great crevasse because of our sinfulness. No matter how hard we try, we cannot get to God without God—without Jesus—without the Cross. God loves us so much that He bridged that chasm for us to be reunited with Him. The Cross of Christ is the bridge we must cross in order to get to God. But we don’t cross it on our own. And we don’t need to be nailed to it either. That wouldn’t do it anyway.
Jesus has already done that for us. We need only to trust in Jesus and believe. But what does it mean to believe? If we believe in something, it means we are willing to trust in it, even perhaps with our lives. This is the truth about the love of God and believing in it will show us the way to life – life to its fullest even here and now.
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I recently came across this story about “Momma’s Rules” which could add spice to our thoughts about mothers and the gospel message, JTTTTL. The story is about a delightful woman named “Momma Charlie,’ who has raised a dozen or so foster kids. These youngsters were assigned to her by the courts, and she gave them a home with stability, guidance, and love. Momma Charlie said that every time a new child arrives, the first order of business was to explain “Momma’s Rules.” These included behavioral standards, plus chores that would provide much-needed help in the busy household while teaching accountability to kids with little previous training. Some of the children may have balked at “Momma’s Rules,” thinking they were robbing them of fun or pleasure – yet nothing would be further from the truth. Those standards allowed for an orderly household where both Momma and the children could find life enjoyable and peaceful. (ODB, 2015)
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Some look at the standards God set forth in the Bible as obstacles that prevent us from enjoying life. Similarly, considering the arduous and dreadful circumstances of the pandemic we are devastated and disconcerted on what God has in store for us in these present complications. But I believe that these difficulties are but temporary and they are God’s blunt manner of conveying His message – JTWTTTL. Only through our Lord Jesus Christ that we can overcome these pandemic and other obstacles that may come after it. Jesus told his disciples and is now telling us, “Do not be worried and upset,…Believe in God and believe also in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house, and I am going to prepare a place for you. I would not tell you this if it were not so. And after I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to myself, so that you will be where I am. You know the way that leads to the place where I am going…. “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me.” (John 14:1-4, 6)
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Let us pray.
Father, thank You for the boundaries of life that protect us from sin and from ourselves. Give us the wisdom and grace to respond gratefully to Your word in areas of danger and temptation. Amen (ODB,2015)
Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (ECP-BCP, Collects p128)**
