I don’t ever remember a time where my mother sat and enjoyed an entire family dinner from beginning to end. Growing up we ate dinner as a family regularly. My mom would cook a delicious meal and bring it, main dish, side dish and all to the table. She would see that my father was served and then each of my siblings and me got something on our plate. By that time, because there were four of us kids settled around the table, seconds were ready to be had. The cycle repeated itself day in and day out. Not only at evening meals, but she had the same practice when we had company or when she hosted my 16 Aunts and uncles and 52 (approximately: give or take a few) cousins at the annual Family Christmas Party. My mom ate, but not without getting up from her seat countless times to make sure her children, my father and our guests had what we needed for a memorable meal.
This is one of the countless sacrifices my mother made for me during my life. During the month of May it is important that we honor the sacrifices of our Mother’s with the celebration of Mother’s Day. The one sacrifice that was the greatest made by all mothers was the sacrifice made by our Holy Mother, the Virgin Mary (the Theotokos- the God-bearer).
Mary was only 15 or 16 years old when the Archangel Gabriel came and proclaimed her to be the one chosen to give birth to the uncreated one! Not only was she young, but she was not yet married. In those days to become pregnant outside of marriage was not acceptable and was an offense punishable by stoning. Theologian, Nicholas Cabasilas has written: “The incarnation was not only the work of the Father, of His Power and His Spirit . . .but it was also the work of the will and faith of the Virgin. Just as God became incarnate voluntarily, so He wished that His Mother should bear Him freely and with her full consent.” (Introducing the Orthodox Chuch, Coniaris, pg. 100).
The Young Virgin conceded and said, “Yes” to the will of God! She accepted the responsibility of carrying in her womb the one who could not be contained. Her desire to fulfill God’s will and to serve Him stands as the greatest witness of our Christian Faith! This Mother’s Day, as we recognize the achievements made by our mothers, wives, and grandmothers, let us take a moment and reflect on our Christian Witness, the way we proclaim our Faith, the sacrifices we make for our Lord. Let us reevaluate our sense of Christian service znd contemplate our true motivations. Are they self-seeking, are they self-centered, and egotistical? Are we trying to earn “points” for entrance to the Kingdom, or are they truly altruistic?
Do we have an honest desire to fulfill the needs of our neighbor before we satisfy our own? Imagine a community, no, a world, full of people anticipating the needs of others before their own! Imagine the benefits to a life dedicated to serving the needs of others. Imagine the advancements we would make as a human race!
Our Holy Mother said, “Yes” to God and fulfilled His will, and our Earthly Mother’s said, “Yes” to the responsibilities and sacrifices of parenthood. It is time that we redirect ourselves and refocus our approach towards others and truly, “commit ourselves to one another and to Christ our God!”
Happy Mother’s Day!
