Fourth Sunday of Lent - All age Mothering Sunday
“My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour”
Summary
On Mothering Sunday the church gives us the story of three mothers: Hannah, Jochabed and Mary. Each of these women endured danger and difficulty to bring their child to birth and each bore a child who would also endure danger and difficulty to bring new life to their people. Their labour was not for themselves and their families but was for the benefit of all the families of the earth. Today we will hear Hannah’s song from 1 Samuel 2 and Mary’s song from Luke 1: in response to the new life they are about to bring forth they sing, not of their own hopes and fears, but those of all God’s children.
Throughout the scriptures there are descriptions of God as our mother: struggling in labour; weeping in sorrow; nursing and protecting her offspring; and, before his crucifixion, Jesus describes himself as a mother hen who longs to gather her children to her breast and hide them under the shadow of her wings. The mother is both a symbol of God’s love for us but also of our calling to love as God loves. Romans 8 speaks of the whole creation groaning in labour for the glorious revelation of the children of God. This is our labour. To commit ourselves to struggle with hope to bring to birth the promises of God for all God’s children.
FIRST READING
A reading from the first book of Samuel
Hannah prayed and said,
‘My heart is full of joy in the Lord;
and God strengthens me.
There is no Holy One like the Lord,
there is no Rock like our God.
The weapons of the mighty are broken,
but the weak are given strength.
Those who were full, work for their bread,
but those who were hungry, are fat with spoil.
The childless has borne seven children,
but she who has many children is forlorn.
The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low, he also lifts up.
He raises up the poor from the dust;
and sits them with princes in honour.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
and he will guard his faithful ones,
GOSPEL
Luke 1
Mary said, ‘My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’
