A Mother's Love: Drawing Upon God's Gifts

Lk 1:30-38, Jn 19:25-27

In Memory: Doris Cooper Caldwell, 1920 - 1985, & Inez Hinkle Patterson, 1926 - 2002

Opening Prayer

Praise be to You, our Lord and Master, who has risen from death from the grave into everlasting dominion over all that is good. Be with us in this time with You, giving us comfort, faith, hope, love, and Your ever-present guidance to do all You have commanded us to do. Amen.    

Gospel Reading

But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God." "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. [Lk 1:30-38]

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. [John 19:25-27]

Commentary

Two observations worthy of this meditation emerge. First, what faith mothers possess. The miracle of conception and birth produce a bond beyond spiritual comprehension, don't they? I can recall on more than one occasion when my wife, Donna, awakened me in the middle of the night saying something like, "Something has happened to Kali (or Morgan)". And, sure enough, some event did occur - sometimes not good and sometimes joyful, but nonetheless, something. It is as if they are connected in some way beyond the explanations of physics. The second observation about Mary, the mother of Jesus, is simply the trauma of witnessing the crucifixion of her Son. How horrible it must have been, particularly since she, at the time, was unaware of the ultimate glorious conclusion. Can any of us feel the feelings and emotions that were inevitably part of those moments?

Who hasn't truly marveled at a mother's love, given a moment to think about it. Of all the tasks given by God to mothers, the only one that really matters, and the one so often overlooked because it never waivers, is a mother's love. It is the only thing on Earth upon which we can truly depend - day in, day out, rain or shine, in sickness, in health, in times of great disappointment and failure, and in times of great celebration. The greatest example of Mother's Love that I can recall was in the early '80s when I was driving very early one morning from my then current home in Palatka, Florida, to a business meeting in Tallahassee. Near 7 am I was passing through Stark, the exact time it turned out, of the execution of the serial killer, John Spinks. The radio show to which I was listening was covering the execution and as I listened, driving very close to where this human being would be executed, they began to interview John Spinks' mother. During the course of her interview, she stated something like, "He really is a good boy in his heart." As horrifying as this mother's testimony must have been for many, it was as it should be. When you can no longer depend upon anything in this world, including the demons in your own heart, you can always depend on Mother's Love. It is the one, God-given attribute that never waivers. It can't waiver, even when Mother desires to lose it. Warmth and love simply overcome every other emotion. And so, as Jesus remarks in the Gospel above, if Mother's Love is this remarkable, how much more remarkable - neigh, incomprehensible, must God's love for us be?

Meditation

Before beginning this meditation, assure that you will have at least 30 minutes of uninterrupted time with God in a comfortable place. After reflecting on the Gospel and Commentary, expect to be led to God, not to "talk" to Him, but rather for a "listening". Distractions during a meditation are normal. If you feel yourself talking to God or thinking of something else, simply acknowledge the thought and instruct yourself to return to the meditation in silence. As advised in Ecclesiastes, "…, there is a time to speak, …." But, now is not that time. Now is "…a time to be silent…."

Read through the meditation below. Then, after re-reading the Gospel & Commentary, expect to be silent, listening to God for as long as you feel He is speaking to you. Accept the mystery of God's presence in your heart in whatever form it takes - through quietness or through a distinct feeling of communication. Whatever form your meditation takes will be the right form for now. Accept God's gift and trust in Him.

To begin this meditation, find a comfortable spot where you will be uninterrupted for at least 30 minutes. Seat yourself comfortably. Breathe deeply and slowly for two to three minutes. Visualize all the things that trouble you evaporate from your body like steam from the street after a summer storm, leaving your body restful and content.

Visualize yourself in Jesus' time, waking early in the morning. As you leave your house just as the sun is rising over the rooftops, feel the warmth of the sun on your face, breathe in the cool morning air and smell its freshness. As you walk leisurely down the street enjoying the day as it unfolds, you notice that you have fallen in with a crowd that is following Jesus. You know Jesus from the many times you have attended His teachings in the square and at the seaside. You pick up Jesus' Words as He asks those around Him, "…, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Just then, Jesus, now right beside you, takes up a seat on a bench in the square. You sit down, as well. As Jesus looks at you, hear yourself ask Him, "I think I understand what you just said, but sometimes - at least for me - I feel so unworthy, so insignificant, that God could not possibly love me or notice me. How can this be?"

For the next several minutes, quietly listen to Jesus' response to you. Resist talking to Him, but rather listen for as long as you feel His presence and/or instructions in your heart.

Feel your meditation come softly to an end.  Feel the refreshing sensation Jesus has placed upon you and know that this sensation will stay with you all day long.

As the days pass, observe the changes Jesus is making in your life from this reflection. Record any special coincidences or revelations in your Reflections Journal (downloadable from the Meditations Library), calendar and/or on anything handy and refer back to them in two weeks.

Sharing Your Vision with Others

If you are so called, turn to your Reflections Journal and, using the guidelines provided, share your mediation with us.  Regardless of how insignificant you feel your meditation might have been, your small candle may become a floodlight for others.  So, with all humility, prayerfully consider sharing Christ’s revelations in your life with us so that we might share them with others.

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Printing this Meditation

You can, of course, print this meditation by pressing the "Print Screen" key on your keyboard. Some find it preferable to download and print an entire series of meditations, along with the Reflections Journal. Should you wish to print the series from which this meditation comes, click here to return to the Meditations Library.