Today is the fifth Sunday after Easter according to the church calendar, but also Mother's Day in many parts of the world.
According to the tradition of the ancient church, the fourth Sunday of Lent, observed in March or April, was the special day for honoring mothers. This custom continues to this day in Great Britain and Ireland. However, in nearly every other country in the world, Mother's Day has been observed on the second Sunday of May since 1914, when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed it an official national holiday in the United States in 1914.
No matter what the date, it is good and right that we have a day to honor our mothers. What does the Bible say about the value of a mother? We find one beautiful passage in Proverbs 31: 10-30. It says in part, "An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels...Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her."
The complete text is a poetic description that God has given us, that allows us to understand the supreme value of a mother, recognized by God, the community, and most important, her family.
Furthermore, the Scriptures teach that in the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, He created the human race as male and female. The first man, Adam, was created first, but the Lord said, "It is not good that man should be alone." So He created the first woman, Eve, as a companion and helper fit for Adam.
But the woman was not only a blessing for her husband. Children, as much as husbands, count on the support of their mothers, not only to maintain a comfortable home where all their physical and spiritual needs are met.
According to God's design, both mothers and fathers are marvelous gifts of God because of their love, care, tenderness and affection that give us emotional security and also spark within us gratitude toward the Lord that placed us under their material and spiritual supervision, just like Timothy, who received from his mother and grandmother the teachings of the Holy Scriptures that bring us to the knowledge of truth and life.
That is why the Fourth Commandment says "honor your father and your mother" equally. That is why the Fourth Commandment is the only commandment that carries a promise: "That your days may be long in the land."
Fathers and mothers have different roles within the family. The father is responsible for providing for and protecting his wife and children, and also has the primary responsibility to instruct his children in the worship of God and the study of the Scriptures. But if the man of the house dies, or, God forbid, abandons his family, these responsibilities pass to the mother. And children always should respect their mother in the same way that they should respect their father.
This is the order of creation according to God's design and in the beginning it was perfect. But because of the disobedience of Adam and Eve, the creation is stained by sin and death. There is much wickedness and injustice in the world today. For example, there are children without parents, that is, orphans, young mothers without husbands and the resources to care for their little ones, and elderly widows without adult children or other family members to care for them.
Therefore, in today's epistle reading, the Apostle James talks of them. In his day, widows and orphans were among the most misfortunate members of society and that is often true nowadays as well. And St. James says. "Religion pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: To visit the orphans and widows in their afflictions and keep yourself unstained by the world."
Our lesson begins with these words: "But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only" and also, "If any among you thinks he is religious, but does not bridle his tongue and deceives his heart, then his religion is useless."
What is this? James is speaking of good works. In fact, in chapter 2, verse 20 of this epistle, we read that "faith without works is dead."
What does he mean? Are we not saved by faith apart from works? Are we not justified by faith alone? Of course. But good works are the fruit of living faith. The gift of faith is primarily a transformation of our minds, from being rebels against God to grateful children of God. And this internal transformation will reflect itself in a change in our outward actions, and our lifestyle.
According to Luther's Small Catechism, the Law of God serves three purposes: as a brake, as a mirror, and as a measuring-stick.
As a brake, or check against evil, the Law suppresses the manifestations of sin and helps maintain external security in this world.
In today's epistle, St. James speaks of the Law as a mirror, that is, the Law teaches men true knowledge of their sins. But, the apostle says, he who only hears the Word of God without applying it to his life, is like someone who only glances in a mirror and does not examine himself in depth. There is no true repentance in this person.
Finally, the Law serves as a measuring-stick, or guide, for Christians as to what are truly good works.
In our epistle, St. James shows us an example of this third use of the Law: Caring for the orphans and widows is pleasing to God. That is, as a congregation, as the family of God, we are to be parents to those who have no parents and family to those without families.
This is the goal of our mission here, to help needy families in la Caramuca with their material and spiritual needs. We gather every Sunday to receive forgiveness and the consolation of the Holy Spirit in the preaching of the Word and the sacraments in the long run, not only as blessing for ourselves, but to be a blessing to others.
Therefore, this Mother's Day let us thank God for our mothers and also pray for those less fortunate and look for ways to help them. Amen.
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