Easter 5 - Mother’s Day
Bob Wickizer
Acts 8:26-40; Psalm 22:24-30; 1 John 4:7-21; John 15:1-8
14 May 2006
Transitions
Jesus said, "I am the true vine and my Father is the vine grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been pruned by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you."
This was a weekend of transitions for my family. Our friend Mileen whose son was baptized here a few months ago, graduated from college. Our daughter Rebecca also graduated from college on Saturday. We spent the afternoon under a tent at St. Mary’s College watching the newly hatched crop of graduates step across the threshold.
After the ceremonies we met some faculty members almost half our age. We packed up Rebecca’s room for the last time and as we got ready to move her home we realized it might be the last time we do this. Joan and I choked back tears at various times, the same as we did at all the earlier life transitions and comings of age:
Learning to walk, riding a bike, driving a car, prom night, off to college and now back from college
At an address to the Harvard student body a few years ago, Mother Teresa was asked what was the most spiritual thing we could do in the world. To this question she quickly replied "Love your family." Of course mothers already know this.
Mothers experience the life transitions of their children in ways that fathers never can because only mothers have that organic physical connection to their children. A mother’s bond to her children is a connection that says "I am in you and you are in me." I think mothers are uniquely capable of understanding the vineyard metaphor Jesus uses where he says "abide in me as I abide in you."
We are here today because through baptism we are also members of a family. Like any family we celebrate all the major transitions of life. In fact the Book of Common Pray ...
Bob Wickizer
Acts 8:26-40; Psalm 22:24-30; 1 John 4:7-21; John 15:1-8
14 May 2006
Transitions
Jesus said, "I am the true vine and my Father is the vine grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been pruned by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you."
This was a weekend of transitions for my family. Our friend Mileen whose son was baptized here a few months ago, graduated from college. Our daughter Rebecca also graduated from college on Saturday. We spent the afternoon under a tent at St. Mary’s College watching the newly hatched crop of graduates step across the threshold.
After the ceremonies we met some faculty members almost half our age. We packed up Rebecca’s room for the last time and as we got ready to move her home we realized it might be the last time we do this. Joan and I choked back tears at various times, the same as we did at all the earlier life transitions and comings of age:
Learning to walk, riding a bike, driving a car, prom night, off to college and now back from college
At an address to the Harvard student body a few years ago, Mother Teresa was asked what was the most spiritual thing we could do in the world. To this question she quickly replied "Love your family." Of course mothers already know this.
Mothers experience the life transitions of their children in ways that fathers never can because only mothers have that organic physical connection to their children. A mother’s bond to her children is a connection that says "I am in you and you are in me." I think mothers are uniquely capable of understanding the vineyard metaphor Jesus uses where he says "abide in me as I abide in you."
We are here today because through baptism we are also members of a family. Like any family we celebrate all the major transitions of life. In fact the Book of Common Pray ...
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