The One Who keeps us all together - Mother's Day

Mother’s Day May 12, 2013 Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 John 17:20-26 The One who keeps us together 7th Sunday of Easter – sort of Year C Lady Wisdom in Proverbs Proverbs 8 speaks of lady wisdom, standing in the busiest places in our lives, in the crossroads of our lives, speaking the truth of God to us, trying to get through to us, but we are too busy to listen. There are too many things going on at the crossroads for us to take the time to listen to what she has to say. That is a vivid image for me, because it reminds me of my grandmother, who as a young teenager used to constantly stand over me day and night giving me advice, and I would constantly tell her to leave me alone, and let me think for myself. It was only after she passed away that I realized that life for an 8th grader was not all that exciting, that I could have been more patient and willing to listen to what she had to say to me. That the wisdom and knowledge that she had to impart to me was invaluable. What is Wisdom What is wisdom? In the dictionary it is defined as “knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight, the quality or state of being wise;” So I go further what is wise? Having the power of discerning and judging properly as to what is true or right; possessing discernment, judgment, or discretion, characterized by or showing such power; judicious or prudent: a wise decision. “”Having the power of discerning and judging properly as to what is true or right” I think more importantly, wisdom is a understanding of the things of God. It is realizing that order, structure, and rational thought are a natural part of who God is and what God does. Lady wisdom’s claim was that she was that before God created anything else, he created wisdom. And during the work of creation she was there every step of the way. She witnesses the creation of the land and of the sea. God was a master worker as he created all things. She says “then I was beside him, like a master worker, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race.” Of all of the things that God created, his greatest joy is you and me, he was most proud of humankind. Thus lady wisdom stands among us today – reminding us to think of the things of God first. Wisdom from mother As a child, I don’t remember neither my mother or my grandmother spending a lot of time in church. As a matter of fact, they sent me to church a lot, but they never went with me. But I do know that they taught me a lot about the order of things, these are things that my mother said all of the time, but I think there are lessons that we can all relate to…. Marlene's Top 20 Life Lessons: (as well as I can piece them together) Life's Lesson Number 20 Is About: The Value A Job Well Done "If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning." Life's Lesson Number 19 Is About: Time Travel "If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to slap you into the middle of next week!" Life's Lesson Number 18 Is About: Logic "Because I said so, that’s why." Life's Lesson Number 17 Is About: Foresight "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident." Life's Lesson Number 16 Is About: Irony "Keep crying and I’ll give you something to cry about." Life's Lesson Number 15 Is About: Dichotomies "Shut your mouth and eat your spinach." Life’s Lesson Number 14 Is About: Stamina "You will sit there young lady until all that spinach is gone." Life's Lesson Number 13 Is About: The Weather "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it." Life's Lesson Number 12 Is About: Hypocrisy "If I told you once, I’ve told you a million times not to exaggerate!" Life's Lesson Number 11 Is About: The Circle Of Life "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out." Life's Lesson Number 10 Is About: Behavior Modification "Stop acting like your father!" Life's Lesson Number 9 Is About: Envy "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don’t have wonderful parents like you do." Life's Lesson Number 8 Is About: Anticipation "Just wait until we get home." or "Just wait until your father gets home" Life's Lesson Number 7 Is About: Receiving "You are going to get it when you get home!" Life's Lesson Number 6 Is About: Medical Science "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way." Life's Lesson Number 5 Is About: How To Become An Adult "If you don't eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up." Life's Lesson Number 4 Is About: Genetics "You're just like your father, and that's not a compliment." Life's Lesson Number 3 Is About: Wisdom "When you get to be my age, you'll understand." Life's Lesson Number 2 Is About: Justice "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you" and Life's Lesson Number 1 Is About: Three-Year-Old Sons "No Jon, just because you feel your sister move in my tummy does not mean I ate her!" God uses a lot of important voices in our lives to teach us the order and structure of life. and it takes a lifetime to learn to listen to those voices. And to take those messages to heart. We have been studying from the book of John for the Easter season. John is the only gospel who speaks of the presence of creation, and How God is working to restore the order of our lives. Only in the book of John do we hear of the work of creation. Not only was wisdom present in the process of creation, but Jesus was present also. He understood God’s intention for our lives. And he dedicated his life to restoring us to that intention. Jesus is the author of our salvation. The world has gone so far from the intention of God, that Jesus too came to remind us of God’s wisdom. Our Gospel lesson for today – John 17:20-26 is a continuing part of Jesus farewell message to the disciples. He ends that message with a prayer for the blessing of all future generations who are willing to listen to and live according to the word of God. In order for new generations to hear the wisdom of God for their lives, Jesus says that there must be unity. We must learn to be one with our brothers and sisters. Jesus says that in order for there to be unity in the church, we have to be as close to God as he is. The same relationship that he has with God, we have to have with God. Jesus was alongside of God when he was doing to work of creation. The good news for us is that lady wisdom was there too. If we listen to wisdom, we can be as close to God as Jesus was. If we are able to be close to God, then we are able to be close to one another. God sends people in our lives even today to be the voice of wisdom for us, to help us to understand the order of God. In many instances that voice has been the voice of a strong woman. Today we are honor the voice of our mothers whom God has given us. Our mother is our biggest advocate, the one who delights in us, in who we become. But we also honor the many women of strength in our lives. The voices of wisdom who reminded us of the order of things. I appreciated this poem of the difference between being strong and a woman of strength. A woman of strength is one who relies not on her power, but on the power of God to go through life. STRONG WOMAN VERSUS A WOMAN OF STRENGTH A strong woman works out every day to keep her body in shape ... but a woman of strength kneels in prayer to keep her soul in shape... A strong woman isn’t afraid of anything ... but a woman of strength shows courage in the midst of her fear... A strong woman won’t let anyone get the best of her ... but a woman of strength gives the best of herself to everyone... A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future... a woman of strength realizes life’s mistakes can also be God’s blessings and capitalizes on them... A strong woman walks sure footedly... but a woman of strength knows God will catch her when she falls... A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face... but a woman of strength wears grace... A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey... but a woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will become stron Flowers are a tradition of mother’s day. On the first mother’s day, the daughter who started it all passed out carnations, because that was her mother’s favorite flower. I thought of passing out carnations today- but not only would that have been expensive, I thought of a better flower to pass out. The flower that we have all given to our mothers at some point in our lives. I relate the dandelion back to wisdom – but I can relate it back to the everyday faith of God. The dandelion – some would call it a weed, but I think that it is a flower of faith. a flower of strength. A strength that is with us, and is so common, in so many places there we don’t even pay attention. To the wisdom of God that is all around us. Amen. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Make a list of 31 things your wife does for you and the family which you seldom thank her for. Make a point of thanking her specifically for one on each day of the coming month. On each day of the following month pay her a new compliment on one of her good attitudes, character qualities, habits or talents. And be prepared for a better relationship than you've enjoyed in quite a while. think of how often in scripture it is the woman who is the vehicle for ministry. Who prompted Jesus to perform His first miracle? A Woman! Who ministered to Christ during His public ministry? The women! Who anointed the body of Jesus? The women! Who stayed with Jesus throughout his trial and crucifixion? The women! Who were the first witnesses to the resurrected Savior? The women! Who makes up the majority of the population of most churches today? The women! g...