Source/Author: Dr Michael Dalseno

Mothers are indeed a great “GIFT” to this world, and we honour and applaud them for their great sacrifice, devotion, enduring patience, occasional trial and tribulation, and the guidance and joy they bring to every son, to every daughter, and to every household.

CELEBRATING MOTHERHOOD

Dr D

Shortly before Jesus’ death there was one item of “unfinished business” He had to attend to and it concerned His earthly mother, Mary. “When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ From that hour the disciple took her into his own household” (John 19.26-27).

One might think there was already sufficient for Jesus to contend with; the events of Gethsemane, the brutality and partiality of His trial, and now hanging on an excruciating  Roman cross. Yet, He casts a thought towards His earthly mother in ensuring she will be both loved and cared for. John records the event, as cited in the above passage, no doubt because he was that “beloved disciple.”

We don’t hear a great deal about Mary in the Gospel accounts, not surprisingly, given the writers’ emphases on Jesus life, message and ministry. But we do get some glimpses and valuable insights, commencing with the birth of Jesus. The interceptive words of the angel presented her with many emotional and practical difficulties, not the least being that she was a virgin and unmarried. Luke informs us of some of these deep personal experiences, particularly her submission, willingness, humility, devotion, self-control and unselfish joy (Lk.1). In truth, we must be impressed with the godly character of Mary – so willing to accept motherhood; so willing to receive both the pain and the joy that accompany motherhood; and so willing to see through her commitment right through to the very end.

We encounter Mary again a little later at the wedding of Cana (distinctly recorded by the “beloved disciple,” John) and already familiar with how Jesus has a way of turning any normal event into something remarkable (John 2). Of course, like any mother, she had her times of doubts, fears, insecurities, and even “disappointments,” as evident on one occasion when Jesus went missing (Lk. 2) and on another when the advices of some others suggested that He was getting out of hand, maybe even out of His mind (Matt. 2, Mk. 3). Otherwise, Mary features as strong at the end (the crucifixion) as at the beginning, hence Jesus ensuring that she will be well looked after by the determinately trustworthy and faithful disciple, John.

In short, we learn that mothers are indeed a great “GIFT” to this world, and we honour and applaud them on this MOTHERS DAY for their great sacrifice, devotion, enduring patience, occasional trial and tribulation, and the guidance and joy they bring to every son, to every daughter, and to every household. And there’s also the other side of this profound human equation - for as Jesus, and John, made it a top priority to look after Mary, so should we love, honour, appreciate and value all that our mothers mean to us.