Nurturing Growth

In this season of graduations, thousands of people are hearing inspiring speeches, some by famous people.

The theme is always something encouraging to help graduates take what they have learned and find their way in the world.

While fathers have significant roles in people believing in themselves, mothers are often the primary source of nuturing children into competencies to act on what their parents hope for them, and what they, too, want to do.

Setting goals is vital; so is nurturing people into believing and doing what it takes to achieve desired goals.

Mothering care often comes from sources other than biological.

Anyone, be they female or male, who nurtures people with encouragement, guidance, and comfort, is doing exactly what Jesus did with his disciples.

This is the way Jesus nurtured his disciples into their best being, just like his mother Mary did for him.

This is our call, too. Like Jesus, we need the nurturing from others in order to believe in ourselves and find our way through ups and downs.

And, like Jesus, we need to be nurturers to new disciples and people of all ages and stages who need encouragement, guidance and comfort.

This is how Divine love works. The more it is given, the more it grows and spreads into a world that needs it.

For those who abide in Christ, love is an endless mutual process of receiving and giving love that nurtures growth, that comforts loss, and that opens us to the hope of the resurrection in our daily lives.

The disciple’s graduation day was the day of Jesus’ Ascension. Like many graduates of colleges, the disciples were confused and worried at first.

By gathering and abiding in love together to pray, study scripture, reflect, and share, they found what they needed.

Let us go and do likewise.

Amen.

The Rev. Christina van Liew

2024_05_12 Sermon - Easter 7