On Mothering Sunday, we give thanks for our Mother the church; we celebrate those who have mothered us; and we also reflect on our calling to mother those in need.  

To help us we are offered either the story of Moses or the story of Samuel.  In each story there is a child in need of mothering but the stories also reflect on how taking on the job of mothering is a necessary part of our growth in faith and discipleship.  Mothering is hard work but it is also a gift. 

In 1 Samuel 1:20-28, Hannah (who is desperate to be a mother) hands her child over to Eli to raise.  It is Eli who needs the lessons that motherhood can teach.  Eli has done an appalling job at parenting both his own children and God’s people but here he is given another chance to learn and grow as Samuel learns and grows. 

In the gospel, John 19:25-27, Jesus gives his mother, Mary, the task of mothering the church, a family defined not by blood or birth but by love.  This is also our task: and, in the sometimes hard, sometimes frustrating work of creating, nurturing and loving, we discover that our understanding, mercy and compassion are expanded and that we are transformed more and more into the likeness of Christ.

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