No Contingencies

Rev. Molly F. James, PhD

DFMS Noonday Prayer

Monica, May 4, 2021

May God’s Word be spoken. May God’s Word be heard. May that point us to the living Word, who is Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today we remember Monica, St. Augustine’s mother. And our readings are full of stories about mothers and children. Our psalm tells of how offspring shall increase. Our first reading from Samuel is all about Hannah’s prayer for a son being answered. Our Gospel is about the miraculous healing of a mother’s son. Dear God, dear lectionary committee, did we really need all these texts about mother’s prayers being answered just a few days before Mother’s Day. Life is complicated enough right now. Did we need to be reminded of our own complicated family lives or of the prayers we have fervently prayed that have not been answered in the way we might have hoped? Motherhood is complicated and fraught. There are complicated relationships with mothers. Complicated relationships with children. Those who desperately wanted to be mothers and that did not happen. Those who were not planning on it and suddenly found themselves to be mothers. 

I want to push back on things  a bit. Surprise, surprise. Monica is a remarkable faithful woman who is notable in her own right. Why do the texts for today make it all about her motherhood? Is that all we can mark of her significance, being Augustine’s mother? 

I will admit that it brings a smile to my face when a child comes up to me and calls me “Halsted’s mom” or “Katherine’s mom.” It is a source of pride and joy to be connected to those two remarkable human beings. Aaaaand, it is not the sum total of my existence. I hope I am known, I hope all of us, are known and honored for the multiple roles we inhabit - for the myriad relationships that give our lives meaning and texture, for the impact we have in the world, and ultimately just for the kind of person we are. 

What is so notable to me in Monica’s story is her statement to Augustine at the end of her life that it does not matter where she is buried, because proximity to God does not depend on geographic location. Ah there it is. There is the profound, significant truth that I would guess is a valuable reminder for all of us. Our connection to God is not contingent on where we are. Perhaps Psalm 139 (v. 6-9) would have been fitting for today? 

Where can I go then from your Spirit? *

    where can I flee from your presence?

 

If I climb up to heaven, you are there; *

    if I make the grave my bed, you are there also.

 

If I take the wings of the morning *

    and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

 

Even there your hand will lead me *

    and your right hand hold me fast.

We can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Things are opening up. More and more of us are being vaccinated. And there is still so much uncertainty. Will things stay safe and open? How do we not follow India’s path? What will the future look like? When will we feel safe in a large group of people again? 

It is a gift today to be reminded that God’s presence with us, God’s abiding love is not contingent on anything. It is not contingent on our behavior. It is not contingent on our location. It is not contingent on whether we have all the right answers. It is not contingent on whether or not we feel overjoyed or overwhelmed or just a little off. God is there. God is with us. Always. So in the midst of our week, whether things are going great or terrible or we just feel blah - and if this week is like so many other weeks, it will probably be all of those things at various points. In the midst of that let us remember to pause, to take a deep breath, to pray, to listen to music, to go outside, to call a friend, to read a book, whatever it is that provides us with a tangible reminder that God is indeed with us. No matter what. Amen.