Please note: there will also be a live service at Sutton church (inside) at 10am Mothering Sunday The Church in its wisdom has given us a choice of Gospels for Mothering Sunday, one from Luke at the start of Jesus’ life and the other from the crucifixion in John. I have recorded both for the online worship. This is for those who decide not to go to church on Sunday morning. Luke’s scene is part of the longer story that we had at the end of January for the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple. Today’s Gospel focuses on Simeon’s words over the infant Jesus - “This child is destined for the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed.” In other words Simeon sees Jesus as a figure of world significance, who will cause many to fall and many to be raised up, revealing the innermost thoughts of many. There will be opposition. His life will not be easy, but it will be the life of a great person. Simeon finishes with words of warning for Mary - “and a sword will pierce your own soul too.” I wonder what Mary made of these words. Did she put them to the back of her mind? Did she brood over them? What effect did they have on the way she brought up her son, knowing what she did about the miracle of his birth? John’s scene gives us a sort of answer. Jesus is dying on the cross. At the foot of the cross are standing Mary, her sister, Mary Magdalene and the disciple Jesus loved. In all the pain and the heat, the difficulty of breathing and the sense of dereliction, Jesus entrusts his mother to his disciple and his disciple to his mother. Even in death, Jesus’ love goes out to others. He thinks for others and makes provision for them. The disciple takes Mary into his own home, from that moment. A new family is formed. Out of the horror of the cross grows something beautiful. The disciple cared for her until her death some time later, as holy tradition has it. At the centre of our faith are families like this. People are important in Christianity. Our faith builds up, taking those who have fallen and raising them up, in Simeon’s words. In our pandemic times these are Gospels for us. They speak to those of us who have lost loved ones. Jesus knows our suffering and entrusts us to the care of others. There is also a message of hope, even though swords pierce our hearts. Suffering flows from the cross, but so does healing and hope. Beyond Good Friday lies Easter Day. That never changes. You can trust that.
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AuthorCanon John Green Archives
May 2021
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