25/3/01 10.45 a.m. Mothering Sunday Family Service

Introductory Talk

On front of service sheets have been asked to see how many words to do with mothers you can make from the letters in 'Mothering Sunday'. What words have we got ?

Can include : dinner, roast, iron, dig, stare, ruin a story, moan, nag, rage, get mad, naughty one ! Others ones are :

Hugs. Most mums are good at hugs. When we feel are hurting, or feel sad, or rejected a hug can tell us how much we are loved and accepted.

Grins. Mums are able to make their children happy by grinning at them. Melanie will sometimes grin at Chloe who, although she is only four months old will give a large grin back again.

Doing. Mums spend lots of time doing things. I know this from personal experience because when Melanie was in hospital around the time of Chloe's birth I had to do the washing, ironing, cooking, cleaning, chauffeuring, shopping, helping Joshua with homework and so on. Sometimes children can help their mums, and dads by doing things with them, which is great. Joshua loves to help Melanie with baking cakes.

Strength. Mums need and show a lot of strength while their children are growing up.

Nurse. Mums sometimes have to take upon the role of a nurse. To decide if their children really are sick enough to miss school and to help them by keeping them warm and giving doses of Calpol !

In a few moments we will look at some of the things that Mary, the mother of Jesus experienced...

Main Talk

33 The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."

Still using the letters from 'Mothering Sunday' we will look at four things that Simeon said would happen to Jesus.

Rise. Jesus would, verse 34, cause the falling and rising of many in Israel,

In his ministry Jesus would show that those who thought that they were religious and important were not part of God's people. Jesus came and mixed with people who were irreligious and considered unimportant. He enabled such people to be accepted by God and showed how precious they were. This is still true today. Jesus will accept us as we are because everyone is special to God.

Hated. Jesus was hated by the religious leaders of the day who he denounced. This is what Simeon was talking about in verse 34, to be a sign that will be spoken against,

No parent likes the thought that their child will be unpopular, but sometimes people have to stand up for what is right. Mary always supported Jesus, even when he endured opposition.

Hearts. 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.

By his life and teaching Jesus reveals what people are really like. Whether they are true followers of God or not.

Jesus came to bring forgiveness to those who follow him. It is by worshipping Jesus and obeying his teaching that we show that we have genuinely embraced his forgiveness.

Hurts; Misery; Agony; Anguish;

"And a sword will pierce your own soul too."

Mary had just been through the stigma of being unmarried and pregnant. She had gone through the pain of childbirth without pethadine, gas and air, or an epidural. A few days later she was being told that she would have to go through more pain.

No parent expects to bury their own child. It seems to go against the natural order of what you might expect. Unfortunately I have had to conduct such funerals at times.

Think of how difficult it would have been for Mary to see her son unjustly executed in a barbaric, humiliating way on the cross.

Of course, three days later she would have been overjoyed to learn that Jesus was alive and that her son had conquered sin and death and has opened the way to God for everyone.

Jesus went from death to being risen.

So on this Mothering Sunday let us thank God for our mothers. Not just what they have done for us but who they are.

Let us remember too that Mary is an model not just of motherhood but of Christian willingness to undergo suffering to further God's purpose. We can learn from her example of submission to God's will and seek to imitate this.