As we approach Mother’s Day I was thinking about the relationship between Jesus and his mother. Most of the images of Madonna and child are kind of austere. There’s the blank faced Mary staring out at us and the holy Jesus with halo. Sometimes Mary at least looks vaguely happy and is cuddling Jesus a little or looking down at him. Some of these images are kind of interesting in their way too, but I really liked this image on the left.
This captures some of the essence of that mother and child relationship. After all, Mary was a real mother, one who I’m sure was overcome with adoration and love for her little baby boy. And Jesus was a real child who I’m sure was fascinated by his mother’s face, her lips, her touch. I’m sure Jesus loved reaching out to his mother, and I’m sure Mary loved giving her baby kisses.
And so as you celebrate Mother’s Day, as you think about the mothers in your life, let’s also direct our attention to this mother and child. Mary the mother who would bear the savior. Jesus whose life and death would bring healing and restoation back into all relatonships, including those of mother and child.
