HONOR YOUR MOTHER - AND MINE!

HONOR YOUR MOTHER - AND MINE!
May 2023

May...month of Mother's Day and of Mary. With that in mind, I would like to share a story that was told to me some years ago. It concerns a non-denominational minister whom I'll call Carl. He pastored a large congregation, which was constantly growing and expanding with multiple ministries and outreaches. It was very successful, both pastorally and financially. Everything seemed to be going well for Pastor Carl, except for one problem - he ran into a brick wall in his prayer life.

Whereas Carl used to enjoy a sweet communication with the Lord in prayer, it now seemed that the heavens were closed to him, and he couldn't understand it. Catholics would probably identify his situation as "dryness in prayer" or even a "dark night of the soul," but Pastor Carl didn't know those terms. He only knew that he wasn't used to experiencing it and he didn't like it! After a few weeks, he was determined to get to the bottom of what was wrong.

He cleared his schedule and went away alone to a friend's cabin in the woods. There he spent time crying out to the Lord and begging the Lord to give him light and direction. Then, in desperation, Carl asked the Lord to reveal to him any ways that he might have sinned or done something displeasing to God.

"Have I offended you, Lord?", Carl prayed. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the answer came. Pastor Carl sensed the Lord speaking quietly to his heart. "Yes, you have offended me," said the Lord, "You have dishonored my mother." Carl felt the Lord saying to him, "You honor your own mother, as you should, but you have not honored mine."

Carl was dumbfounded and began to search his heart for what he might have done to dishonor Mary. He had in fact always been critical of those people - especially Catholics - that he thought paid too much attention to Mary. Carl was insistent that Jesus alone was the Savior and Lord. He relegated Mary's role to simply that of a conduit, a vessel for the Messiah to be born into the world. He thought, and had even said, that Jesus' mother "didn't matter that much." Now he was forced to re-examine these thoughts and words. Pastor Carl prayed more and reflected on his attitudes. He was led to meditate extensively on John 19:25-27, the passage which relates how Jesus on the cross says to the beloved disciple, "Behold your mother," and the disciple took her to his own home. He also pondered Luke 1:48, in which the inspired Scripture records Mary as saying, "For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed." Carl believed every bit of the word of God, but what did that really mean?

After much soul-searching and examination, Pastor Carl came to the conclusion that, as he put it, "my attitude toward Mary was not the same as Jesus' attitude toward her." The way he had referred to Mary in the past was clearly not in keeping with her dignity as the "mother of the King of Kings." It was not only disrespectful of Mary but to the Lord who chose her. Carl shed tears of repentance and, on his knees, asked the Lord's forgiveness. He was quick to admit that there was much that he did not understand about Mary's role, but one thing was certain - he would never speak about Mary in the future except with the utmost honor and respect!

The following Sunday, Pastor Carl stood before his congregation and shared his experience with them, including his new realization and resolution regarding Mary. Almost immediately, Carl noticed a breakthrough in his prayer and communication with the Lord. A difficult lesson learned!

During this month of May, and always, let us put into effect the very lesson that Pastor Carl learned - honor your mother and the mother of Jesus too!