Mothers’ Day
May 10, 2009
Gospel: John 15:1-8
Many years ago – during the 1970’s when such things were popular – I took a two-week summer nature course. One of the assignments was to adopt a tree.
Every day we were supposed to go to our tree and talk to it, write to it, and draw pictures of it. I thought the whole idea was silly, but I wanted the credit so I went along with it. Every morning I would report to my oak tree, ask how it was doing and write nasty little notes to it. I am pleased to report that my tree never responded.
Jesus spoke to the people of his day in images they could understand. Today, we hear him speak of vines and branches. I do not know much about grapevines, but every time I hear this gospel, I remember some of the things I learned from my tree.
For one thing, I realized that a tree could not survive without the nutrients that come up from the roots, through the trunk to the branches – and a branch cannot live apart from the trunk. Once a branch falls from the tree it dies.
So it is with the People of God. Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches.” Jesus is the trunk of tree that provides the nourishment we need to survive - his Body and Blood present in the Eucharist we share.
We are the branches. We can have no meaningful life apart from him.
The more I looked at my tree, the more I began to appreciate its true strength and beauty. The tree’s strength comes from the trunk – sturdy and solid - but its beauty is in its branches. No two branches are alike. They are more similar than different, but each is distinct. The artistry of God’s creation is brought about by the many diverse parts that come together to form this mighty and magnificent object.
So it is with the People of God. We gain our strength and sustenance from Jesus Christ – the true vine – who is the center of our lives. But the beauty of God’s creation lies in the fact that each one of us – each branch of that marvelous creation called humanity – is as unique as a snowflake. And what it even more remarkable, each one of us is loved by God individually – as an indispensable part of the whole. This is why when we judge someone by the color of their skin, or by the language they speak, or by anything other than as a unique child of God - we are taking an ax - not just to that branch - but to the essence of the tree itself.
I also noticed how much other creatures depended on my tree for life. The bird nested in its branches. The squirrel waited for its acorns to drop. We humans depend on it for shade - and for the very air we breathe. The life of the tree comes from the trunk – but the branches help provide life to other living creatures.
So it is with the People of God. Jesus is the true vine that gives life to all of us – but he calls each one of us – each branch – to help sustain that life. He calls us to provide a nesting place for those who require shelter - food for those who must be nourished - a cooling place of rest for family and friends. He calls us – always and everywhere – to support the life that God gives us.
I do not think that anyone understands this better than a mother. From conception to birth, she is the only source of sustenance for the life within her – and from birth onward, she continues to nourish and care for it.
As we celebrate Mother’s Day, let us always remember our mothers – and anyone who has nurtured as only a mother can – adoptive mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, foster mothers, godmothers – even single fathers who are often called to be both father and mother to their children.
Abraham Lincoln once said: “All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” An angel is a messenger from God - sent to do God’s work. That is also a pretty good definition of a mother. Happy Mothers Day!
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