"Share Joy!"

So, 

Tell me about your mom?

What was she like?

If she isn’t with us, what made her amazing?

Or if she is with us, what about her just makes her love for you clear?

We all know moms aren’t perfect, and some are much better at this mom stuff than others. Some always wanted to be moms. Some never wanted to be moms. 

My mom, well technically “our mom” because I had two sisters was a wonderful loving nut job. She was so excited to see us - especially as we got older – when we came home to visit.

She did her mom thing well, with sometimes very limited resources, since my dad didn’t make much money in the early years. But she did what she could.

She made too many casseroles with peas, but that’s because there was not enough money for meat for everyone. And she made Jello with peas and carrots, because we kids needed more vegetables. What an amazing way to ruin Jello.

She like so many moms in her generation had lost a child in infancy, perhaps at birth. James I think was his name. But she went on!
Some moms loved being pregnant with their children, some hated it. I remember the shock in our house when at 9 years of age my sister Sue and I had another sister Nancy. 

Mom and Dad seemed overjoyed, and yet shocked. Hmm? Surprise, surprise!

Some moms love the brand-new little babies, but not necessarily the toddlers, or the preteens, or those pesky teenagers.

Some moms took the responsibility of being a mom seriously, not all. And some took it on without any joy, unfortunately.

We love our moms, even if they are imperfect, because no one is perfect, not me, not you, not even mom! Yet…

Moms in so many ways reveal the character of God!

And one of those ways is the way they so often rejoiced with us and for us. Celebrated our achievements. Beamed with joy when we were being crazy characters.

And then loved us from the very core of their beings, because, let’s face it, we came from the core of their beings.

Just as we have come from the very core of God’s being, made in the image and likeness of the Almighty.

Just think about that. While Jesus taught us to talk about God as a father, he was not shy about making sure we knew how God was like a mother to us as well!

And guess what? 

God rejoices over us, just as mom always did, when succeeded, when we did our best, when we cared for others, because when we do, we reveal God’s character in us!

Jesus in Luke’s gospel tells the story of God’s love and God’s joy, reminding us that God has not, nor will God ever abandon us! 

In fact, like the shepherd, and the woman, and the father in the following story of the Prodigal son, God is always searching for his lost daughters and sons, calling them home, inviting them home, wishing them home, and back into a loving and caring relationship with God.

While many in the religious community continue to tell a story of sinners in the hands of an angry God, Jesus tells the story of a shepherd!

Of a shepherd who heads off from the safety of the sheep pen to go find the one lamb that is lost or hurt, and then returning home, not only rejoices within his heart at the great wonder of his miraculous find, but gathers the whole faith community to rejoice

And then Jesus tells of the women who has lost a coin, possibly part of the dowry for her daughter!

He says she searches for it frantically, lighting up the dark house, sweeping in hope of the misshapen coin flipping up and glinting in the light. 
And when she finds it, she does the happy dance and then invites the whole community - that will someday join in a wedding celebration - to come now and rejoices with her.

And then Jesus goes big and tells the story of a father, much like God, who longs for his estranged son to come home!

The son had been lost in the eyes of so many, but not in his father’s eyes. 

He is his son, even if he had been lost, hugging him tight, restoring his ring, his robe, his sandals, restoring him to the family - even when his older more proper son didn’t understand!

Because that’s what father’s do, that’s what mother’s do - and most important for us to understand – that is what God does!

Loves us, restores us, and then rejoices with all of heaven and earth that we have come home!

As I said, I remember well the delight in my mother’s eyes when we came home from afar.

I also remember the relief in her eyes, when Sue and I and the kids packed up and came home to Otisville. I mean really, she was only human!

But the God who is eternal loves you now and forever, and he wishes you home into his loving embrace, and …

And this is essential, God is looking for more lost sheep, sheep perhaps you could help God find and bring home. 

Because we are invited, yeah even commanded to share the joy! Amen.