Mothering Sunday

Mother’s Day Reflection on Mary, Mother of Jesus

Today is Mother’s Day in the UK. Or Mothering Sunday as it is more traditionally called here. It’s a day when we say thank you to our mothers, grandmothers, and anyone who loves and cares for us like a mother. Also a day to get in touch with that mothering spirit that resides in every heart as a gift from God, that spirit within each of us that would nurture, care and protect.  And today, I would to take us on a little journey through the life of Mary, the Mother of Jesus glimpsing her life through the Gospels as we reflect on the many dimensions of motherhood, its joys, its sorrows, and its profound mysteries.

1. We begin with the Annunciation, the call to Motherhood, (Luke 1:26-38) where according to he story the angel Gabriel comes to Mary with astonishing news: she will bear a son who will be called the Son of the Most High. 

This moment reminds us that motherhood often begins with a call, sometimes unexpected, sometimes overwhelming, always life-changing. Mary’s response, “Let it be done to me according to your word”, speaks to the courage and trust that so many mothers embody. They step into an unknown future, saying yes to a love that will shape their lives forever.

2. Next, we reflect on the visitation, the power of support and sisterhood (Luke 1:39-56). After receiving her calling, Mary travels to see her cousin Elizabeth. This beautiful encounter reminds us that motherhood is never meant to be walked alone. Mary and Elizabeth rejoice together, sharing their awe and uncertainty. Here, we see the importance of support, how mothers lean on one another, finding strength in community.

3. From there the Gospel story takes us to the moment of birth, the labour of love (Luke 2:1-20). The birth of Jesus is a moment of joy and exhaustion, of wonder and vulnerability. We can picture Mary in a stable, difficult circumstances, as she holds her newborn son, pondering all these things in her heart. Most mothers would know this feeling, the awe of new life, the fierce desire to protect, the exhaustion of sleepless nights. 

In the simple, sacred act of holding her child, Mary reflects the universal experience of motherhood: love poured out in tenderness and sacrifice. A mothers love that makes do even in the most difficult of circumstances. 

4. Next, as Mary and Joseph take Jesus to the Temple to present him before God (Luke 2:22-35), the prophecy of Simeon is a reminder that motherhood and parenthood will never be an easy journey. There will be joy, but there will also be moments of profound worry and concern that sometimes might feel like a sword piercing the soul. But the presentation in the temple is also a reminder that our children ultimately belong to God. Mothers and parents are temporary caretakers. God is the ultimate guardian of our children's souls.  And as we are reminded by St Paul , there is nothing in all creation that can separate them from God's parental love made known in Jesus.

5. As Jesus grows a little older we witness something of the worry and panic of motherhood (Luke 2:41-50).  When Jesus is twelve, he goes missing during a trip to Jerusalem. Mary and Joseph search frantically for three days before finding him in the temple. Relief, frustration, and worry all mix together as Mary asks, “Why did you do this to us?”

I imagine that many Mothers have experienced something of the panic turned to relief of Mary in this passage…. Being a mother is clearly not for the faint hearted. 

6. Fast forward to early adulthood we see the power of a mother’s influence. (John 2:1-12)

At the wedding at Cana, Mary notices a need, “They have no wine”, and she brings it to Jesus. Even as an adult, Jesus listens to his mother’s urging. This moment reminds us of the quiet but profound influence mothers have. They see needs others overlook, encourage potential before it is realized, and call forth the best in their children.

7. Next we witness the protective love of a mother (Mark 3:31-35).  As Jesus begins his ministry, his family becomes concerned. People are saying strange things about him, and Mary wonders if he’s okay. She and his brothers go looking for him, hoping to bring him home. But when they arrive, Jesus says something surprising: “Who are my mother and my brothers? Those who do God’s will are my family.”

As we enter the story, we can imagine it must have been hard for Mary to hear those words, yet they’re a reminder that mothering love sometimes means letting go and allowing our loved ones to follow their own path, a recognition that our children don’t belong to us, they are part of a bigger and wider human family.

8. Next, at the cross we see a mother’s suffering and love (John 19:25-27).  Perhaps the most poignant moment of all, Mary stands at the foot of the cross, watching her son suffer. Here, we see the deepest truth of motherhood, the willingness to bear pain alongside the one you love. Mary does not turn away; she remains present. Her presence speaks of a love that does not abandon, even in suffering.

9. Lastly, a mother’s love remains devoted to the end. (Acts 1:14) After Jesus’ resurrection, Mary is found among the disciples, praying as they await the coming of the Spirit.

This final image reminds us that motherhood does not end, it evolves. Mothers become companions in faith, wise counsellors, steady presences even as children grow. Mary remains part of the story, just as mothers remain anchors in the lives of their children.

The Promise of a Mother’s Love - A Closing Reflection 

A mother’s love is one of the strongest forces in the world. You only need to witness the fierceness of animal mother’s protecting and defending their young. From the moment a mother carries her child, through every joy and sorrow, a mother’s heart beats with devotion. We have seen this in Mary’s life, how she said yes, welcoming Jesus with love before he was even born, how she watched over him as a child, stood by him in his ministry, and remained with him even at the cross.

Mary’s love for Jesus is a reflection of something even greater, the unshakable love of God. Just as Mary never abandoned her son, God never abandons us. Just as Mary treasured Jesus’ life in her heart, God treasures each of us as beloved children.

St. Paul reminds us in Romans that nothing, nothing in life or in death, no power on earth or in heaven, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. God’s love holds us in joy and carries us through suffering. Like Mary, who stayed faithful through everything, God’s love stays with us no matter where we go or what we face.
This is the promise of a mother’s love. And this is the even greater promise of God’s love, a love that will never let us go.