Binhi sang Pagtuo
May 11, 2009
Dear Centralians and Friends,
Greetings from the Chaplain’s Office!
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers!
Our reflection for this week comes from Isaiah 66:12-13 that says, “For this is what the Lord says: “Look, I am ready to extend to her prosperity that will flow like a river, the riches of nations will flow into her like a stream that floods its banks. You will nurse from her breast and be carried at her side; you will play on her knees. As a mother comforts her child, so I'll comfort you. You will be comforted in Jerusalem.”
This text declares that God is mother too! This is intriguing because most of time we call God as our father, and only a few would dare to call God as our mother also.
Our bible is written from a patriarchal point of view. In the Old Testament, God is called the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and God is not called the God of Sarah, Rebeccah and Rachel. But God did not allow that he can only be described as father. God allowed the Prophet Isaiah to describe his motherly love to Israel.
God described Israel as a mother in whom the Israelites can have milk from her breasts, that the Israelites can be gently rock to sleep in the arms of her mother, and that they can play in her. God also disclosed that it is not only Israel that acts as a mother to her children, but God himself is also a mother – “as a mother cares for her child, I will also care for you.”
God did not also allow a total blackout of women in the Bible. There are famous women in the Bible like Queen Esther, and Ruth. These two women have two books in the 66 books in the Bible – only 3% yet their stories were told. There is Deborah, the female judge. There is Rahab, the harlot, who was applauded for her faith. In the New Testament, there were many women disciples of Jesus who actually were the financial supporters of Jesus like Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna (Lk. 8:1-3). Statistically speaking, the names of women in the Gospels are mentioned more than the names of the twelve disciples except for that of John and Peter.
Jesus was very radical in challenging the patriarchal world view of the Jewish tradition. He healed women; he talked to them spiritual truths like the woman in the well – the words, “you must worship God in spirit and in truth” was spoken by Jesus to the adulterous woman when she asked where the proper place of worship is. Jesus came to the rescue of another adulterous woman who was about to be stoned to death. The actions of Jesus towards women during his time were very revolutionary. Many were shocked by what Jesus did especially the religious leaders. Jesus gave the women their proper honor and dignity that they deserved.
Isa 49:15 says, “Can a mother forget the infant at her breast, and walk away from the baby she bore? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you!” Yes, we hear stories of mothers abandoning their new born babies but God as our mother will not abandon us. He will never leave us nor forsake us. God as our mother will always be there for us.
May God continue to bless us all!
Sincerely,
Pastor Francis Neil G. Jalando-on
Assistant Chaplain
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Chaplain's Office Website: http://www.cpu.edu.ph/chaplain
Audio Sermons of Binhi sang Pagtuo: http://binhi.4shared.com
Blog: http://cpuchaplain.blogspot.com
May 11, 2009
Dear Centralians and Friends,
Greetings from the Chaplain’s Office!
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers!
Our reflection for this week comes from Isaiah 66:12-13 that says, “For this is what the Lord says: “Look, I am ready to extend to her prosperity that will flow like a river, the riches of nations will flow into her like a stream that floods its banks. You will nurse from her breast and be carried at her side; you will play on her knees. As a mother comforts her child, so I'll comfort you. You will be comforted in Jerusalem.”
This text declares that God is mother too! This is intriguing because most of time we call God as our father, and only a few would dare to call God as our mother also.
Our bible is written from a patriarchal point of view. In the Old Testament, God is called the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and God is not called the God of Sarah, Rebeccah and Rachel. But God did not allow that he can only be described as father. God allowed the Prophet Isaiah to describe his motherly love to Israel.
God described Israel as a mother in whom the Israelites can have milk from her breasts, that the Israelites can be gently rock to sleep in the arms of her mother, and that they can play in her. God also disclosed that it is not only Israel that acts as a mother to her children, but God himself is also a mother – “as a mother cares for her child, I will also care for you.”
God did not also allow a total blackout of women in the Bible. There are famous women in the Bible like Queen Esther, and Ruth. These two women have two books in the 66 books in the Bible – only 3% yet their stories were told. There is Deborah, the female judge. There is Rahab, the harlot, who was applauded for her faith. In the New Testament, there were many women disciples of Jesus who actually were the financial supporters of Jesus like Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna (Lk. 8:1-3). Statistically speaking, the names of women in the Gospels are mentioned more than the names of the twelve disciples except for that of John and Peter.
Jesus was very radical in challenging the patriarchal world view of the Jewish tradition. He healed women; he talked to them spiritual truths like the woman in the well – the words, “you must worship God in spirit and in truth” was spoken by Jesus to the adulterous woman when she asked where the proper place of worship is. Jesus came to the rescue of another adulterous woman who was about to be stoned to death. The actions of Jesus towards women during his time were very revolutionary. Many were shocked by what Jesus did especially the religious leaders. Jesus gave the women their proper honor and dignity that they deserved.
Isa 49:15 says, “Can a mother forget the infant at her breast, and walk away from the baby she bore? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you!” Yes, we hear stories of mothers abandoning their new born babies but God as our mother will not abandon us. He will never leave us nor forsake us. God as our mother will always be there for us.
May God continue to bless us all!
Sincerely,
Pastor Francis Neil G. Jalando-on
Assistant Chaplain
--
------------------------------
Chaplain's Office Website: http://www.cpu.edu.ph/chaplain
Audio Sermons of Binhi sang Pagtuo: http://binhi.4shared.com
Blog: http://cpuchaplain.blogspot.
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