Women of Faith

We honor our mother during Mothers’ Day each year in honor of the great efforts they have made in raising us. They do everything for us, and without them we would be and have nothing, but the most important thing they offer to us is to bring us to Church. Without our mothers we would have not faith. They are courageous, strong, and faithful women who are the bedrock of our lives. We honor them with gifts and flowers, luncheons and presentations, but the greatest gift we can give to our mothers is to live a life in Christ. The real honor we offer our mothers is to have a relationship with Christ.

 

Holy Motherhood

Mothers’ Day is a day to honor our mothers, those holy women who gave us life. This week’s episode of Be Transfigured in dedicated to honoring Holy Motherhood. Holy Motherhood is different than birds caring for chicks in their nests. Holy Motherhood doesn’t end with mere physical labor. Holy Motherhood includes bringing us to know Jesus Christ. Holy Motherhood teaches us to open our hearts to Him, and allow His warmth and love to heal our hearts and bring us into repentance. Holy Motherhood is what makes us children of God rather than animals.

Honoring Motherhood

Each year on Mothers’ Day, we honor the women who bring life into the world. These women, our mothers, sisters, daughters, cousins, and friends possess a unique and God-given power to become co-creators with Him and bring all human life into the world. Without motherhood, we would be lost. Without motherhood, we would not know love. Through the God-given stewardship of motherhood and by example, our mothers teach us to love one another, to sacrifice for each other, to serve each other, and the greatest lesson of all – to love and serve the Lord. It is not surprise that we honor them with a special day set aside in the calendar, so that they know we love and appreciate them.

Of course the example par excellence of motherhood is the Panagia herself. The Mother of God, in her love, dedication and obedience to God, brought Life into the world, so that the entire world could live eternally with God. The Mother of God, serving as our Mother, inspires us to a deep love relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As the icon above the Holy Altar in almost every Orthodox Church throughout the world reveals, she has enthroned God upon her heart, and with open arms she invites us to do the same. The Panagia, like all dedicated and loving mothers brings us to the Lord.

On the Fifth Sunday of Pascha the Church honors another woman who brought an entire city to know Christ. Saint Photini, the Samaritan Woman at the well, met Jesus and ran to town calling, “"Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" (John 4.29) The love and devotion to Christ of Saint Photini resulted in an entire city coming to know Jesus Christ.

Look around and see the dedicated and loving women in your life who have allowed you to see Christ. And now....join with and honor them as icons of blessed motherhood.

Our Journey from Childhood to Adulthood

When Jesus called His Disciples, He said to them, “You will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” (Luke 6.35-36) Saint Paul, quoting the Old Testament, reminds us that God had promised to become our Father long before He called His disciples. “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6.18, 2 Kingdoms 7.14)

Once we are Baptized and Chrismated into Christ, we ARE the children of God, but just like “normal” childhood, we still have some growing to do. This is why Saint Paul said, “Therefore having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7.1) Our Christian life is a journey from childhood to adulthood.

Every child is guided by teachers, mentors, and parents to become the most they are meant to be, and in every way we are children of God. He has given us His Church as teacher, mentor, and mother to guide and shape us as we become children of God. We are never quite complete; as Saint Paul says, we are “perfecting holiness” through the life of the Church. However, even though we may still be children, we are STILL children of God, and He will never abandon us on our journey.