Mother Day 2023

Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day.  What a gift God has given to us in our mothers. 

What do you appreciate about your mother?  What can you do today to let her know all she means to you and how grateful you are for having her in your life. 

Today I thought we might reflect briefly on Jesus’ mother.  She trusted God in spite of not really understanding all that was involved in the angel’s announcement to her that she would be the mother of Jesus, the Messiah.

It must have been challenging for her to believe that amazing fact to begin with, but then there was the society around her that had to be considered. 

Her fiancée would think she had been unfaithful to him if he found out she was pregnant.  The people of the town would always know that she had been pregnant before being married and that was an extremely embarrassing and shameful condition at that time. 

In spite of all these difficult challenges, Mary trusted God.  God had spoken and if God said it, Mary believed it and made a choice to act on it.  Listen to her words to the angel:

“I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”

Luke 1:38

When we face difficulties, do we respond to God like Mary.  God I want Your will and Your way in my life.  Let your will be done in me and my life. 

I want to learn to live simply and naturally like that, don’t you?

On this Mothers Day, we pray to learn from Mary and live in simple faith and trust in God.

Loving God, we thank you for our mothers, we pray in gratitude for our mothers. Thank you for the patience and tenderness our mothers showed towards us as we learned to walk and talk, learn at school, get a job and go forward as a strong and independent person of value and dignity.  We are so grateful for how our mothers cared for us, mentored us and even disciplined us.  

Loving God, bless our mothers.  Give them the courage they need to face the uncertain future that life with children always brings. Give them the strength to live and to be loved in return, not perfectly perhaps, but with gentleness and honour. 

Give them the faithful support of family and friends as they care for the physical and spiritual growth of their children. Give them joy and delight in their children to sustain them through the trials of motherhood. Most of all, give them the wisdom to turn to you for help when they need it most.

Strengthen our mothers when they feel down and give them hope when they are discouraged.  Fill them with Your dear presence.  Affirm Your joy in them for their faithful service in raising their children.  Amen