Day #33
From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised... He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord!
Psalm 113:3,9
Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
John 19:25-27
Father, as we pray for marriages and families, today we especially want to thank you for mothers and their children and for all the joy of family life. Be especially close to those who grieve because they have no mother – for all for whom this feels like a day of loss rather than a happy day to celebrate. Strengthen those who are struggling because they long for children, yet have no children of their own. Be near to those who feel the sadness of separation because they are far apart from those they deeply love, and especially comfort all today’s unremembered mothers. May your love be present in every home, and may your church be true family today, with eyes to see and ears to hear the needs of all who come. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
{Adapted and expanded from ‘Prayers published for Mothering Sunday, 2016’ by the Church of England}
Amen.