Here It Is...The Sermon I Will Preach

Pentecost/Mother’s Day Sermon
May 11, 2008

Good Morning! Happy Pentecost – it is wonderful to look out over a sea of red. And Happy Mother’s Day – it is nice to see some new faces, some returning faces, and those faces that are near and dear because they are so familiar!

Pentecost and Mother’s Day – what a crazy combo!! Obviously this doesn’t happen often – Easter was so early this year, and Mother’s day is not dependent on any full moon around any equinox… so here we are.

At first glance, I thought I would have to choose one or the other as the topic of the sermon – and probably ignore the other. How in the world do they go together?! As I pondered the combo over the last few weeks, I found a link that now seems obvious. Just in case it’s not so obvious to you, let’s explore this. And it’s not that Mothers also have Tongues of Fire…just in case you think that’s where I am going with this!!

The scripture that provides the anchoring text for Pentecost is found in the book of Acts – which is written by the same author as the Gospel according to Luke. Luke-Acts are actually written to go together. The Gospel of Luke begins by explaining the birth of Jesus Christ – Luke tells the story of the Annunciation – with Mary’s acceptance and the movement of the Spirit. The Book of Acts begins by explaining the birth of the church – with the movement of the Spirit over the disciples so that they could preach in every native language of those gathered in Jerusalem.

Just as the Holy Spirit enabled the birth of Christ through Mary, so the Holy Spirit enables the birth of the church through the disciples. The tongues of flame alight on each disciple and gave birth to a new movement that would eventually spread to every corner of the world. Each place the flame touched gave birth to a new congregation… each congregation carries the flame, giving birth again and again as the Word is preached, the Sacraments are celebrated and new disciples are formed. Holy Mother of God takes on a whole new meaning in this context!!

We talk a lot about the church as the Bride of Christ – so the imagery of the church as Mother flows along naturally. It is not a connection I had made before this. As a mother, I am sometimes overwhelmed by the task of raising children that will eventually go into the world as independent young men – teaching them their history, their role in society, their responsibilities to others. The church has the same things to teach us as Christians.

Another thought occurred to me also as I prepared this sermon – this will be the last time for a long time that I will be in this pulpit. I have two more weeks here at Annunciation before I begin my internship at another Episcopal church. This internship is part of my degree plan.

As I pondered the church as Mother, I could certainly see that you all as a congregation have mothered me for the last 15 years. I came here as a Seeker – someone looking for something I had not yet found in a church. When I walked into this building, I knew it was home. You all raised me up through the ordination process, and mothered me through the rough times. I now plan to go out into the world… fly the nest, so to speak. It will not be easy to go away from here, but it is a necessary part of growing up. This – you all – will always be my spiritual home – the place where I was raised. I will not actually graduate until May of 2009. I have no idea what the next year will be like – I do not know what I will be specifically doing next month, much less next year. I do know that I will keep you all as a congregation n my prayers – you will have another intern to raise and nurture – and I know that you will do so lovingly and gently, just as you have with me.

I preached last year on Mother’s Day – and I closed with a prayer that touched a lot of you – I had the request to repeat that prayer this year. As I read it this year, I hope that you can hear it in a new way – from a different place than you did last year:

Gracious, Creator God, like a loving parent, you give birth and life to us all. Just by speaking the words, "Let there be ...," with one breath you form us in your image. On this day when we celebrate mothers and their love for their children, we remember that you are the source of that love ~ and we thank you for all the ways we are nurtured by your love. We thank you for people who have provided your nurture and love to us throughout our lives... for the loving mothers in our midst... and for women who, though without children of their own, have nurtured and cared for us like mothers. We also remember that this day brings pain to those who have longed for children but are not able to have them... for those who have, for whatever reason, been denied a loving relationship with a mother or child. For mothers who have been unable to be a source of strength, who have not responded to their children, and have not sustained their families. We lift up to you those who have lost a mother or child through death resulting from illness, and all the children who have lost their mothers, and mothers who have lost their children as a result of violence. We ask that you surround with your grace and mercy those mothers who grieve for children who have made serious mistakes that have so altered the lives you would desire for them. For mothers whose children express their pain and frustrations in inappropriate and harmful ways. And, we remember mothers who are impoverished and watching their children die from malnutrition, and for mothers whose children are missing. Lord... we pray for all these mothers and children today. And we ask that you surround them with your tender love and compassion. We pray for all your children throughout the earth... help us to love one another as you love us, and care for one another and this world you give us for a home. All this we pray, in the name of our Lord Jesus, who taught us to pray. Amen.

We are the the church – let us pray as with Mary “Let it be, according to your word” – let us continue to be used as a Mother to those seeking – let us give birth to new Christians, to new disciples, let us nurture those in need – as a congregation let us boldly pray – “Come Holy Spirit!” Amen.