The fourth Sunday of Lent was traditionally seen as an oasis in the middle of Lent. It was known as Refreshment Sunday, at least since the 16th century. But you never see it billed as that on church noticeboards. Rather, it is known as Mothering Sunday, unless you buy in completely to the secular idea that it is Mother’s Day. It’s only in England that this happens; in other countries Mother’s Day is another day altogether. But in the Church of England, we quite like a “both…and.. “, rather than an “either….or..”. So for us Mothering Sunday carries several connected meanings. Yes, it is a kind of little “break” in the middle of Lent, a note of celebration in a time of self-discipline. We might even celebrate it with the traditional simnel cake. It is also a time for celebrating Mother Church. The earlier custom was that people away from home (for example, in service) would return to their “mother church”, the parish church where they came from, on that day. It is a reminder that Church is the place where we experience the love of God like that of a mother; caring for us, sustaining, nourishing , supporting. God our Creator is neither male nor female in the human sense, but embodies what we consider the qualities of both. So the Church also displays God’s maternal qualities. So in England, we thought it natural in more recent times to couple all that with an invitation to celebrate the love and care of our own mothers on this particular day. A mother experiences and understands in a very special way the idea of love and sacrifice, through giving birth, nurturing and caring for growing children. Motherhood is a vocation and God gives special gifts of grace to those who respond to that call. As well as praising God for the gift of Mother Church and our Mother Mary, let us praise him once again for our mothers, whether living or departed. And let us pray for all mothers as they face the challenges of their important role. Michael Kingston
The God of second chances and fourth chances and immeasurably more We use the expression ‘second chance’ to describe an opportunity to try again or to start anew after a failure or setback, emphasizing the possibility of redemption and growth. Sunday’s gospel reading talks of a fourth chance. “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6-9) The man assigned the role of caring for the vineyard represents God’s generosity and passion for giving us opportunities to grow and bear fruit. He redoubles his efforts to nurture the fig tree. The God of immeasurably more gives us not just second chances but as many as we need and trusts in our redeemed future where, unlike earthly fruit that decays, we will produce lasting fruit, and he provides the environment we need to succeed. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other (John 15:16) The fruit that God longs for us to produce is of one variety – the fruit of love.
Travelling in Sweden recently, we noticed the perennial popularity of ‘Swedish red’ (Falu Rödfärg) for the buildings. Pictured is Olofsfors Bruk, an ironworks living museum where the buildings must conform to the colour code of falu red framed by white. Even the floating duck-house conforms! (The building behind conforms to the yellow colour reserved for higher society.) It was typical of our trip to see buildings and trees mirrored in water in the beautiful September sun and to experience a deep quietness. These impressions have stayed with me and led me to reflect on conformity. Olofsfors is exceptional in enforcing conformity to this cultural historical colour scheme. More generally it’s an active choice. Why? Speculating as an outside observer, it’s pleasing to the eye. It looked great against the greens and blues of a sunny start to autumn. Imagine how picture-perfect it must look in the dark days of winter when the houses are lit by stars adorning the windows and the snow glistens all around. And it’s a good choice. The red pigment (originating from the Falun copper mine) has wood-preserving properties and a reflective quality that must transform a dull day, making the most of any sunlight. It's good to make an active choice about what we conform to. As Christians that could involve choosing to stop conforming to ways that do not preserve wellbeing and conforming more to ways that reflect the light of Jesus Christ. ‘As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart’ it says in Proverbs. Reflections are rarely perfect but better in still water. Psalm 46 says: ‘Be still and know that I am God’. Out of prayerful stillness comes inner transformation towards conformity to the image of Christ and God’s good, pleasing and perfect will. Related bible verses are Psalm 46:10, Proverbs 27:19, Romans 8:29, 12:2, 1 Corinthians 13:12, 2 Corinthians 3:18.
Each week one of our benefice team writes a reflection to help us explore life and faith.You can read it here Thought for the Week
