SERMON: Do not let your heart be troubled.
Mothers do come in so many different forms, and mothers do live under so many different circumstances and conditions. Mother’s day is a celebration and a recognition of our Mothers and Mothers around the world, a day of gratitude and love – but it is indeed a very emotional day as Motherhood is the source of the greatest joy and the deepest sorrow.
Mothers do come in so many different forms, and mothers do live under so many different circumstances and conditions.
Biological mothers, nonbiological mothers, chosen mothers, adopted mothers, expecting mothers, role model- mothers, mentor mothers, missed mothers, distant mothers, sick mothers, teenage mothers, bad mothers, struggling mothers, accidental mothers, regretful mothers, planned mothers, step mothers. Grandmothers, great-grandmothers and not to forget Mother-in-laws,
Today we praise our mothers, but we also praise Mother Earth, and the mother of Jesus, Mary. To day we remember them all, with praise and love or with regret, forgiveness, and heartache.
Mothers.
I ask all of you today – to think of your mother, to whisper her name and to remember who she is or was in your life. Say your mother’s name – and remember.
I am a daughter, a sister, a wife – but what defines me more than anything is that I am a mother. Granted I am a mother hen or maybe a mother bear, and since I became a mother that role has been integrated in all my being. As a daughter, as a sister, as a wife, as a friend, as a pastor.
And after becoming a mother, you definitely understand your own mother much better.
When I was young or younger, before I had children, I was not scared of anything. Or not much! I was definitely not scared of heights!
I loved the thrill of rollercoasters.
I loved to jump of diving boards or cliffs into the ocean, a lake, or a swimming pool.
I loved climbing the stairs of old church towers or steep mountain sides.
I loved to be standing at the railing of a ship, of a balcony or any other viewpoint and enjoy the views.
And then I became a mother!
And as I became a mother hen, I became a chicken!
I became afraid of heights.
I remember when I climbed the stairs to a diving board in beautiful Sweden one summer with Kristian at my hands – he was probably 2 years old. And we were on our way to jump into the clear cold lake on a beautiful summer’s day in Southern Sweden. But as we climbed the stairs, I slowed down… and I had to stop and simply turn around and carefully climb down again with a hurt pride and a disappointed son.
I vividly remember – and so do my entire family – that wonderful summer day in Denmark, where we had all gone to the Gorilla Park near Svendborg to climb in the trees. My sisters, brother in laws, my sons, my niece, and nephew all went – except me and my 5-year-old nephew who stayed on the kiddy trail only 2 feet over ground – after I had to be rescued from a 6 feet tree!
I remember just 2 years ago, when our sons had convinced me to try London Eye – the beautiful Ferris wheel in London – eager to enjoy the view. And then we started, and then I sat down. On the bench in the middle of the gondola, looking strictly at the floor not the view. And I did give our sons a great laugh and a possibility to tease me for years!
Well.
After becoming a mom, I became a chicken. I became afraid of heights.
As if the fear of loosing ground, or facing a dangerous distance or possible deep fall, reminded me of the deep fear of losing my children, of getting hurt so I cannot care, the heights reminded me of all the dangers and possible dangers that could harm my kids or their mother. The scary heights simply give me heartache and nausea, - so I stay low.
And as our boys lovingly, teasingly and honestly are saying, when we are seated at a table of good dinner and a glass of good wine and we are all there: Soren, Mads, Kristian and I: “ Now, mom is happy!” And I am. As simple as that and as deep as that.
Love is a deep feeling.
Love is a responsibility and a joy.
Love is vulnerability.
Love is the greatest joy and the deepest fear of losing or getting lost.
A Mother’s love is unconditional and embracing. Just like H.C. Andersen so heartbreakingly beautiful describes it in “The Story of a Mother”. The story is a sad yet beautiful story about loss, fear, love, fight and acceptance. It is the story about a mother’s love, and how she is willing to sacrifice everything, her eyes, her beauty, her youth and her own life, - to save her dying child. Many stories about Mother’s have been written through time. Stories that tells us about the sacrifice and the choices like in “Sophie’s Choice.” By William Styron. Or stories about an absent manipulating mother like in “East of Eden” by John Steinbeck.
Mothers come in many forms and mothers live through many circumstances and choices.
The Gospel of today from John chapter 14. is a beautiful heartfelt conversation between Jesus and his disciples. It is indeed a conversation about love and belonging. The Gospel begins with the comforting words of Jesus” Do not let your hearts be troubled, believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.”
This story from John is a very intimate tale of commitment, and trust. Amid all the other powerful feelings of betrayal, grief and fear, Jesus comforts his disciples and friends saying: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” He comforts like a mother. He comforts like a father. He comforts with love.
In comforting them, Jesus tells his disciples to trust. Many translations use the English word “believe” for the Greek pisteuo, but the Greek word has more of a connotation of trust and fidelity.
It is a relational thing, not an intellectual thing.
Faith is relational as love is.
Love is relational as trust is.
Therefore Jesus talks about love and trust when he is comforting his disciples.
Jesus tells them to trust in God and tells them to trust in themselves and in their relationship.
Believe in me. Trust me.
This is the language of love as love is to trust and to commit.
“I love you to the moon and back” we tell our children.
“I love you until death do us part” we tell our spouses.
Whatever the words, they are meant as a sign of deep connection, deep trust, and deep love.
It is the language of love, when Jesus says to his disciples: “You belong to me and I belong to you. Nothing will ever be able to separate us or keep us apart. My love will live on in you and between you. If you love me, keep my commandments, love on another as I have loved you. “
These words are comforting as they trust him, as we trust our mothers and fathers to love us and keep us safe.
It is so comforting to know that our relations in faith, to God as a Father, to Jesus as the son and our brother, to the Holy Spirit as the common human bond and spirit – that this relation is based on love and trust. A love as deep and profound and as unconditional as a Mother’s love, a Father’s love.
Look at the beautiful images of children in the arms of their mothers.
Look at the embrace and the sense of belonging and trust.
Remember the old words from Maccabee:
13 Observe how complex is a mother’s love for her children, which draws everything toward an emotion felt in her inmost parts. 14 Even unreasoning animals, as well as human beings, have a sympathy and parental love for their offspring.
How complex is a mother’s love for her children – built on emotions felt in her heart. Mother’s and Father’s do have sympathy and parental love for our offspring. It is complex. It is not easy. It is complicated. Some fail. Some succeed. Some try. Some give up.
Look at the sculpture of Christ on the altar. “Come to me…. Trust in me…. Do not let your hearts be troubled.”
An embrace, a welcome and a love. We trust that from that embrace we can find comfort and strength to be mothers and fathers as we trust in his love.
As the voice of our mothers and fathers might echo in our minds and linger in our hearts, when we as adults consider our own lives and decisions, our own way of being mother or fathers, - the voice of Christ should also echo in our minds and linger in our hearts, when we are troubled, are afraid, in despair or in doubt.
We trust that the love of God is embracing us, guiding us, and comforting us. We trust that we are indeed not alone.
We trust, we believe.
We confessed our faith earlier with the words of the old Apostle Creed.
Ida Auken, a young Danish theologian, and member of the Danish Parliament, expressed her faith:
“We believe in God, our Father, who has created the world and made us in his image.
God, who has given life its beauty and meaning.
God who embraces us with his love and shines as light in our darkness.
We believe in God’s son, Jesus Christ, who every day gives us a new chance.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the strong power that binds us together and creates fellowship among us. “
Yes, we believe. We trust.
Amen.