The Faith and Authority of A Mother
“His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’” - John 2:5 (NIV)

It’s beginning to change. Since the late 60’s, throughout the last part of the 20th Century and on into the beginning of the first part of the 21st Century, activists and the personal achievements of women have demonstrated it to be false. Oh, it’s still out there in some quarters – even in the church. And that of course is one place that it should never have existed. But it did, and unfortunately still does.

I’m talking, of course, about the myth that women are weak and powerless. This grows into the idea that a woman cannot speak to the Body of the church about what it means to be a follower of Christ or that she should not be allowed to exercise the authority to effectively lead others in the Body to do and be what God intends in order for us to see God’s power in our lives.

It’s starting to change because of the willingness of women and men to speak out about what they have experienced both in Scripture and in life about God’s ability and willingness to use women. No, they haven’t forgotten Paul’s words in his letter that he does not permit women to speak, instead they have focused on how Christ empowered and honored the women in His life, beginning with His first public miracle.

Now, let’s remember that it was Mary whom He honored. She came to Him and expected Him to handle the problem. She expected it so much that she commanded the servants to “Do what he tells you to do!” What faith, but also what authority is being exercised there as well… authority not just over women, but over male servants and –dare I say it- even in some small way over Jesus, Himself. Yes, Jesus could have chosen not to do what Mary asked – expected- demanded (choose your verb) Jesus to do, but He didn’t. He honored this woman, in effect giving her authority over him in this one instance. And thus His “public” ministry began, by honoring His mother’s faithful request.

How many ministries have begun that way, I wonder? Oh, I know that has also been abused (We used to call it “Momma called and Papa sent” in my seminary days), but it underlines the reality, that women and especially mother’s have a great authority and faith in both their families and in the church. They always have. They always will. And because of this great things have been done.

You may know the history of Love Gift. During the Great Depression the women of the church decided to take it upon themselves to raise money to support and keep our missionaries on the field. And then there is the American Red Cross, a “ministry” that grew out of the calling and ministry of woman. No, it’s not exactly the church, but it is what the church has historically been and should be doing again: Caring for others in times of crisis. And let’s not forget the work of Mother Theresa or our own Helen Barrett Montgomery. All of these women, individually and as a group, exercised their faith and their authority to call the church to be Christ’s body in our world.

And that faithful, authoritative tradition of women calling the church to become the body of Christ continues today. All you have to do is look around your congregation, your community, our denomination, and you will see women, called by God, calling the church to begin the ministry God ordained for us. The question is, will we honor them as Jesus did, or continue to ignore God’s voice in our midst?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the women in our lives that have heard your call and challenged us to live that call faithfully and courageously. Amen.

 

 

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