Mothers are gift from the Most High. There are few that will love you unconditionally in this life; one is Jesus Christ and the other is your mother. No matter what happens, a mom never ceases loving her child. While I do recognize that there are bad mothers out there and there are some who do not hold the same esteem I do for moms. If that is the case I pray Jesus Christ heals your heart and that He gives you a new mother, someone who can be what you should have had growing up.
The most iconic mother is none other than Mary herself. Having grown up in Protestant churches I was taught to ignore or make little of Mary. The fear of Marian Worship that runs in certain Catholic circles kept me from giving her much of a second glance until my adulthood. Mary was a remarkable woman! She knew the burden that was before her; she knew when she accepted the Lord's commission through the angel Gabriel, that here life would never be the same. Mary chose to bare God (theokosis) and raise Him! No small task and one that was going to be full of heart wrenching sorrow. For Mary was warned early on by Simon, "a sword will pierce your soul (heart)." (Luke 2:35).
I imagine Mary was like most mothers. She loved her son and was with Him through and through. At the Via Del Rosa, as Christ carried the cross Mary with bitter tears remarked, "is that my son?". For Jesus was so deformed and mutilated from the scourging, His own mother could not recognize Him. Mary was to endure what no mother should endure; the death of her child. Not only did she watch her Son die, but in the most torturous and terribly excruciating manner.
I believe Mary loved Jesus as much as any mother who is righteous and loving. We know she followed Jesus when He preached and did miracles. Some think Jesus was indifferent to his mother when it was announced, "your mother, brothers, and sisters are here," to which Jesus responded, "who is my mother? Who are my brothers? Those who do the will of the Father." (Mark 3:32-). Jesus was in the middle of sermon and I do not believe he was being disrespecting to his mother. In fact, proof of Christ's care for His mom is when He is on the cross; He says to Mary: "mother behold your son, John behold your mother. And from this hour the disciple took (care) of her in his household" (John 19:26). This was the Lord's way of saying John you take care of my mom now, she is in your charge. St. John did so faithfully. In fact, John after he was set free from the Island of Patmos was last seen with Mary in Ephesus.
Cleary Christ cared about his earthly mother. As should we. It is a shame in our society how quickly children discard their parents. Once a child is grown and can leave the nest; they tend to leave and think not of their mother unless its time for them to be taken care of and then placed in nursing home. There are many, I say many, children who deeply respect and love their parents that do not behave this way. But I am addressing an injustice that is more common place now than it was fifty years ago. To turn ones back on a mother who loved you, nurtured you, and sacrificed so much is the epitome of ungratefulness! Our mothers from the day we are born lay down their lives for us and make our happiness a priority. I am sickened when I see loving and tender mothers treated indifferently or indignantly after all their love and care.
I urge children in Christ to care for your parents! If you had loving and caring parents who still want your best; they deserve before God your help and love. If you had horribly abusive parents who hurt you in a myriad of ways, then you are only required to honor them in this one way; honor the fact that God chose them to bring you into the world, not the abuse they subjected you to. Then do the minimum, such as make sure they have place to go when they are old and frail.
One of the hardest moments in life is when a parent dies. Next to the Lord God, a mother knows you best. Not even a wife can claim such a close bond because your mother knew you at infancy to the age you are now. She nursed you, kept you warm, and sought to help you grow in every facet. When our parents pass away and go to be with the Prince of Peace, we feel a gaping hole inside us. The ones who where there all those years, who know you better than most are gone until the day we go to be with them and our Savior. Absence can be heart sickening, something I am sure Mary the Mother of Jesus felt until Resurrection Sunday.
I wonder what was going through Mary's head during those long three nights? Did you doubt or did she stay resolute? The latter is what paintings have us believe, but I think she probably was in shock and so distressed that everything felt surreal. To her not so long ago, an angel came to her telling her she would have a son. Then she went to her cousin Elizabeth. Mary had to live a lonely life, only her cousin, Zachariah, and Joseph believed Jesus was the Promised King of His People. But now, at the dark hours of his death, what could she have been thinking? Did she know the full ramifications of Christ's purpose? Did the warning from Simon stay with her and now she looked to it as confirmation? It is impossible to know, but I am sure she was sorrowful. Then on the Third Day of Mourning, Grief was turned into gladness and bitter tears into tears of joy! Jesus had Risen! Mother was reunited with The Risen Christ! In that moment I imagine Mary felt awoken from a nightmare and for 40 Days she could see Her Risen Son and Lord alive!
Those of us blessed with loving mothers must take comfort that when they pass into the next life with Jesus, that we shall see them again in Heaven and they will be raised again to life! (1 Corinthians 15:42, John 5:28-29, and Revelation 20:12=13). For Mothers who lose their children it shall be the same. I know Mother's Day was in May and this is late, but I dedicate this post to mothers everywhere. You are the backbone that keeps children going. Those who are righteous and devout in faith like Mary deserve many jewels in their crowns when they arrive in heaven; for you prayed and petitioned for the souls of your children to be saved. You took sons and daughters to church and earnestly discipled them in the faith. Know that your loving care for your children is seen by Christ and that you shall receive honors in His Kingdom.
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