This Sunday we will once again honor our mothers, mothers in general, and the plan of God for which motherhood is so central. Of course, that points to our celebration of Mother’s Day.

 

We first and foremost should take this opportunity to thank our own mothers. I am often struck by the almost supernatural patience and love for their children that I have witnessed by mothers. 

 

I think of seeing mothers, for example, with a fussing young child in a public place such as in stores, on an airplane or even in church. Those situations combine the discomfort or unease of the child, the knowledge of the attention it is drawing, and at times the need to balance those pressures with giving attention to several other children at the same time.

 

In watching the usual patience and composure of the mother in such a moment, who of us doesn’t wonder what we were like at that age? It reminds us of the love and formation that we received from the mother that God chose for us.

 

But celebrating Mother’s Day on a Sunday also guides us to think about how motherhood is part of God’s plan for the human race. We are then not just remembering our mothers in personal gratitude. We expand our hearts to see God’s creation and His will that should be reflected in every relation between child and mother.

 

The Scriptures give us numerous examples of mothers who highlight different elements of God’s gift of motherhood. For example, we may not be familiar with Jochebed, but we know her story well. She is the mother of Moses (Ex 6:20). 

 

Jochebed gave birth to Moses at a very troubled time with the persecution enforced by Pharoah against the Israelites. Against the order of Pharoah that Israelite boy children should be killed, she hid him for three months. Then, however, she placed her motherly trust in God by placing Moses in the basket and following him with a mother’s love, hope and prayers.

 

In 1 Kings, we read the story of the prophet Elijah meeting the widow of Zarephath and her young son. At that moment, mother and son are united in what they believe are their final moments in this life. The widow is gathering sticks for a fire to prepare and share a final meal as there will be nothing else for them to eat because of the famine. However, at the word of the prophet she shares her meager resources and is rewarded.

 

Subsequently, the child dies of an illness but is brought back to life by the prayer of Elijah. The reunion of mother and son deepens the mother’s faith. (1 Kings:17, 10-24). The link between faith and motherhood is underscored in this passage.

 

Finally, on Mother’s Day in faith we must be drawn to Mary, the mother of Jesus and our mother. When asked by the Angel Gabriel to become the mother of Jesus, Mary has only one calculation to make. “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Lk 1: 38). She senses the link, in this as in every child, between God’s will and the gift of life.

 

Mary will hold and love the newborn child in Bethlehem. She will protect him and flee with Him from the slaughter of the innocents. She will follow Jesus in His ministry and stand at the foot of the cross and be told in reference to St. John and to all of us, “Woman, behold, your son.” (Jn: 91, 26).

 

Our conclusion must be, in faith, that motherhood is a sacred gift. It is part of God’s plan.

 

As we thank our mothers today, we cannot help concluding that motherhood is not held in the appropriate reverence it should be. Part of our declining number of marriages and birth rates results from the diminished appreciation for mothers and for God’s plan.

 

On this day, then, our prayer should be two-fold. Thank you God for your own love shown to us through our mothers. And moms, thank you for being there for us. Happy Mother’s Day.