One of the loveliest of the Psalms is 131, in which Israel is pictured as a weaned child resting in the arms of God, its mother.
This Psalm is special for three reasons. The first, is its humility and lack of pretension. Instead of being portrayed as a great nation, Israel self-identifies as a dependent child reliant on God for all its sustenance and security. ‘My heart is not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvellous for me.’ The Psalm recognises that the depths of God’s being and the complexities of life are such that, ultimately, we will not have all the answers to life, the universe and everything; so, must rest in trust.
Second, in the literature of a primarily Patriarchal society it is a source of wonder that God is sometimes imaged as female. This is one of those instances – there are others – and provides a basis for understanding God as both beyond gender yet able to be imaged through gender. It also acts as a challenge or encouragement to go beyond the relatively small number of occasions in which the Bible images God in this way by exploring this under-developed way of imaging God further. Mothering Sunday being an appropriate occasion to be reminded of the benefits of doing so.
Third, the Psalm opens up for us a particular avenue to rest, reflection and silence. In this Psalm the baby feeds on God so fully that it is satiated and satisfied and in that experience rests in silence. How often do we feed on the milk of God – her presence, her words, her actions – to the extent that we can, in that moment, take no more and lie still, trusting, satisfied, in the everlasting arms that always hold us whatever the great and marvellous things that surround us.
I wonder whether that is an experience of God you would like to enjoy this Mothering Sunday.
Revd Jonathan Evens
