Mothering Sunday and Laetare Sunday

Mothering Sunday takes place on the fourth Sunday of Lent.  But the readings offered by the Church are not particularly to do with motherhood.  In fact, far from it!

First of all, we hear about Samuel anointing David as King of Israel.  Old Testament stories have great focus on patriarchs, prophets and kings.  Then the most famous of all the psalms gives the portrait of the Lord as a shepherd.  

The image of him may be gentle, compassionate and kind, but it is still a male image.

The Gospel reading features a man born blind.  Jesus who heals him and those who question him are all male.  It is only St Paul who makes mention of “Brothers and sisters” in his letter to the Ephesians today.

So what does the Bible have to say to our mothers on Mothering Sunday?  First of all, we should recognise that God configured humanity with mothers as being co-creators with him in bringing new life into the world.  

So, motherhood isn’t just a biological function, but rather a divinely inspired vocation.

And then we can see that God himself chose to enter into his own creation by being born of a woman.  And so we rightly call Mary, “Mother of God.”  What an awesome title.  She is the greatest human being who has ever existed.  She is the Mother of the Church and the Church is our mother.

Baptism refers to the language of being “born again.”  Our very faith is seen to come to us through the motherhood of the Church.  So, on Mothering Sunday, it is good for us to give thanks for our mothers, for the gift of motherhood, and for Mother Church who has enabled us to become spiritual children.  

God bless, Fr Kevin.