June 09, 2010

Bobby's Baptism

                                       BOBBY'S BAPTISM

A little boy's baptism. A first born son. The occasion brought much reflection to my heart on what it means to be heirs in God's Covenant. For boys. For girls. From childhood we learn to worship God as our Father - through prayer, music and in the messages we hear. So too, Bobby was baptized into the name of the Father.

The children's message that day taught something of the meaning of the sacrament. Small boys and girls absorbed the familiar story of being part of the family of God and having a Heavenly Father who loves them so very much. I watched as they turned to look at the sleeping infant and then at the child's Dad, as the point was made that God's children have not just one, but two Fathers. Did they think it strange that God's family has no Mother?  Or that Bobby's Mom did not seem to have any significance in this story?  Or were they already so conditioned to patriarchal thinking as not to notice the omission?

There sat the lovely young Mother whose body formed this child, who carried this little life nine months before shedding her blood to give him birth. Between the couple on that front pew were three proud little sisters - future Mothers in God's family. Would their generation continue to be invisible as to the image of God reflected in them?

So much of the Christian message is about birth.  About being born again. About being born of the Spirit of God. Even little children know that one who gives birth is called a Mother.  Yet in my church we never mention God as Mother.  We never use this honored name to celebrate the one who gives us second birth.

Why are we so reluctant to use the name Mother in relation to God?  Is the idea of Mother demeaning for God? Is Mother somehow a lesser name for the Most Holy? There was a time when I thought so. When addressing God as Father/Mother felt blasphemous. I wondered why. It has been a prayerful journey.

At Bobby's baptism I saw a sincere and loving couple, each created in the image of God. Yet the link we emphasize between our earthly and heavenly Fathers carries a powerful patriarchal message that blinds us to the link between our Mothers and our God.

I wonder. One day when we see God face to face, will we only see the face of a loving Heavenly Father? Or will the faces of our Mothers be reflected there as well?

-JoMae
Written December 2002