Fifth Sunday of Easter ~ Mother’s Day

A Mother’s love and Evangelism. Yes the two go together as we will see this Mother’s Day. Our text for today is found in the 13th chapter of Acts. I would like to explore Jesus command, “For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” (Acts 13:47, ESV)

A little background might be helpful here. In Acts chapter 9 we witness the conversion of Saul to Paul and hear that he is to be a witness, a missionary to the Gentiles. In the chapters that follow a conflict arises among the Jewish Christians about this – Can the Gentiles be Christian? Do they have to become Jews first? Peter struggles with going the Gentiles that are different from him and the Jewish background he knew so well. I am sure that even Paul struggled with this too but the command from God was clear – go to the Gentiles.

The struggle for the early church was how could they (and we) shine the light of Jesus to people who are so different from us. The answer – love! “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35, ESV)

This is were the image of a mother’s love can be helpful. Now I struggled with this image because I know that in this world of sin we often have conflicting images of a mother’s love. Some of you may not like Mother’s Day because of the hurt feelings it brings up. Maybe there is a separation from your mother, maybe abuse, maybe neglect, maybe no mother or mother figure at all in your life. Because of sin a mother’s love here on earth will never be perfect. But how do we know what a mother’s love is supposed to be like? Why are there so many sentimental poems and heart-warming stories about a mother’s love? Because there is a love, a mother’s love, that is greater than anything accomplished by earthly moms. So what does this love look like?

First, it is a love that sacrifices all for another. Moms have a difficult job. They didn’t really choose the children they have to care for but they are such a part of their lives that they would do anything for them. Whether their children are “little angels” or “little devils” they are still loved by their mothers.

The phrase has been said, “A face only a mother could love.” How true that is with a mother’s love – a love we are called to share with the world. The love of Christ is shown to us even when we were dead in our trespasses and sin. The grace and mercy of God that sent Jesus to be our Savior lives in us. We are called to let the light out. We are called to love the unlovable. We are called to go to the “Gentiles” those who are different from us and let the love of Christ shine through us to them. A mother’s love that loves in spite of circumstance, but loves just because is the love we are called to witness to the world. Why? Because God loved us, the unlovable, first and “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Second, moms take risks to show their love. We too are called to risk ourselves for others so that they can hear of our crucified and risen Savior. This Mother’s Day has new meaning for Sara and I because we are now Foster Parents. It was easy to say, before we were foster parents, that parenting problems were other’s problems. But then we took the risk to allow other children in our home, and to build relationships with people we probably wouldn’t associate with normally. It is a huge risk, but it is reaching out to the “Gentiles” around us.

But there has been another result from being foster parents that has been very humbling. When you hear about the situations children have been in on the news it may break your heart but it really doesn’t impact you and we really get kind of a prideful position that we aren’t in their situation. But risking being involved in other’s lives has showed the commonness we have – sin. But for the grace of God all of us could be in the situation of people who foster care has become a court-mandated reality. Our love for others takes on a new meaning when we realize that we are just as sinful and in need of God’s grace as the next person. Love is not a thing we share because we are better but because it is the common thread of God’s grace to all humanity – it is God’s grace working through us. And it takes a risk, to put aside our pride, as it did for the early Jewish Christians, and say, “God’s love is for all, even the ‘Gentiles’ among us.

Third, a mother’s love is given ultimately to create something better. A mother sacrifices her life and shows her love so her children can be shaped and molded into loving and caring adults. Our love as Christians ultimately points to a greater love - to God’s love. In Stephen Ministry we have a statement that help put our care for others in perspective, “We are the care givers, God is the cure giver.” We offer the care but God is the one that transforms our lives. It is all about God and not us.

Our text from Revelation reminded me again of a mother’s love and the ultimate love in our Lord. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4, ESV) Isn’t that what a mother does, wipe away tears! A child scraps a knee, it hurt by mean words, or is just sad – a mother is there to wipe away the tears. And yet again we are confronted with the stark reality that it doesn’t always happen that way on earth. How many times have people been without a mother or mother figure to wipe away the tears? But there is an answer; there is an ultimate love that can never disappoint us – the love of Jesus. Even if we never encounter a loving relationship here on earth, we know that through Christ we can look forward to eternity where God will wipe away every tear, take away all pain and misery and ultimately death. Not even death can separate us from the love of Christ! And that is the message the world needs to hear.

A mother’s love, a love that sacrifices all, a love that risks it all, a love that shares the ultimate love of Christ – that is the love we share as we evangelize the world. “They will know we are Christians by our love,” the folk song goes is really the formula for being evangelists in the world. God calls us to be His vehicles through which His love shines forth in the world. He calls us to the “Gentiles” the people other than ourselves, to share the Gospel. He calls us to love not only our neighbor but also our enemies. He calls us to give of ourselves to the world so that they can see the love of Jesus.

Think it is too hard? Well think about this statement, “God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.” It is not about you but about Jesus. It is not about how well you can show love, it is about how willing you are to carry God’s love to the world. It’s not about playing safe, but it is about risking it all for the sake of Jesus Christ. We are called to shine the Gospel, through our acts of love, to the Gentiles and to the ends of the earth. Begin in your own neighborhood. Who do you know that is hurting and needs a “mother’s love”? Bring the love of Christ to them and let God transform another soul! Amen.