Scripture: St. John 15:9-17
Our scripture text speaks of a Father God’s love for all His precious children, showing us that love through His Son Jesus, our Savior.
While Christ's love is offered to each of us, He does not force his love upon us. We encounter His love as we except His Son, Jesus’ love. Loving all others as we are instructed does not mean we accept them as Christ accepts us. Rather we acknowledge them as God acknowledges us and cares for them as He care for us, wherein we seek to treat them as full brothers and sisters by the blood of Jesus Christ.
One type of human love that I know that imitates Christ’s love for us is the mother’s love for her child.
The Greek called it "Storge" (στοργή storgē) which means "love" or "affection" and especially of parents and children. It is a natural affection, like that felt by parents for their children. In so many ways, her love is sacrificial... as Christ loves us.
I know many such mothers who sacrifice themselves for their children, and today I’m lifting up two…
My wife Judy and daughter René are these 2 women.
Judy’s love is so much in giving totally. She refuses to eat or place anything on her plate before my plate if filled and I often have to take the first bite. She goes out of the way making others happy and giving to them first over herself.
Other examples of a loving, selfless mother mother:
- a mother who dies giving birth to a child
- a mother who’s birth mother is unable to do it herself
- a mother who is really a child/teenager herself
- a mother who adopts a child who’s birth mother could not raise the child (such as René)
- a mother who take on the role with a special needs child
Plus there is an army of ladies who never give birth to a child but step up to the plate when the need arises to love a child. And let's not forget the aunts and grandmothers. All of these situations mentioned offer Motherhood and reflects God’s eternal love for all the little ones.
Recall from the scriptures in Matthew 18:6, when a disciple told Jesus to send all the children away…
Jesus said, “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
For many today, we have only precious memories of our mothers who gave us life but now is in the fullness of God’s heavenly Kingdom. We thank You, oh God, for loving mothers, who loved us. And thank You for sharing Your divine love for us also. For those of us who've lost a mother, we know they wait with You in the heaven now for our reunion when we pass. Amen!
