Message: Beautiful and Holy Place / John 17:6-11

In 2021, Michelle Zauner, who is Korean-American with a white father and a Korean mother, wrote a memoir about her mother called "Crying in H Mart." It became famous and even made it to the New York Times bestseller list. The book starts with her saying, "Ever since my mom died, I cry in H Mart." H Mart is a big supermarket chain in North America that sells Korean and Asian food. In the book, Zauner shows how she feels emotional when she sees Korean mothers and grandmothers in the H Mart food court feeding their children because it reminds her of her mom.

As a matter of fact, when Zauner was a kid, she was rebellious toward her mother because her mom raised her differently from the white moms she knew. Her mom wasn't like a "Mommy-Mom" like her friends' moms. She describes a Mommy-Mom as someone gentle with their kids, showing love when they mess up or get hurt. But her mom raised her tough and strong. She says, "But every time I got hurt, my mom would start screaming. Not for me, but at me. I couldn’t understand it. When my friends got hurt, their mothers scooped them up and told them it was going to be okay, or they went straight to the doctor. White people were always going to the doctor. But when I got hurt, my mom was livid, as if I had maliciously damaged her property.”

When I read this part, I did get emotional because her mom's behaviour was just like my mom's. Most older women in Korea went through tough times because of socio-political challenges. They had to endure difficult times throughout modern Korean history, including the Japanese colonization, the Korean War, the division of north and south, dictatorships, strong patriarchy, and economic crises. That's why they had to raise their kids to be strong. As Zauner said, Korean moms showed their love in a tough way, even tougher than what we call tough love.

But later, Zauner realizes that was how her mother showed love, and no one ever loved her as much as her mother did. One way her mother expressed love was by going to H Mart with her. There, they enjoyed eating Korean food together. So Zauner calls H Mart “a beautiful, holy place” because it helps her remember her identity and the value of her life by bringing back memories of her mother.

Today is Mother's Day. Maybe you've heard the saying, "God couldn't be everywhere, so he made mothers." These words remind us that a mother's love is very much like God's love. Without the courage, love, and sacrifice of mothers, humanity wouldn't have made it this far.

Not only that but if it were not for mothers, we wouldn't be here to praise and worship God as Christians. Thanks to Jochebed's bravery in disobeying Pharaoh's orders and not killing her baby, her son Moses could lead the Hebrews out of Egypt. Because of Hannah's perseverance in praying to God in the face of shame and ridicule, her son Samuel could anoint the first two kings and lay the foundation for the kingdom of Israel. And it was Mary's unwavering faith in God's promises, even when her life was in danger because she became pregnant before marriage, that made it possible for Jesus to come into the world. In this way, mothers are the givers of life and the guardians of faith and hope.

Of course, it's also true that mothers are human, so they make mistakes, have flaws, and face limitations. But what's important to remember is that most mothers nurture, care for, and raise their children as best they can. There are no perfect mothers in the world, but our mothers have done their best with the circumstances they've been given. They guide their children to a beautiful and holy place, hoping for a better life for them.

In Korea, it's said that someone has "grown up" when they understand their mother's love. The Bible also teaches that understanding the depth of a mother's love is a mark of wisdom. In 1 Kings, there's a story which demonstrates Solomon's great wisdom. One day, two women came to him, each claiming a baby as her own. They lived in the same house and had recently given birth. One of the mothers woke up to find her baby dead, but when she looked closely, she realized it wasn't her child. She went to the other woman, who had her baby. Unable to settle their dispute, they went to King Solomon. After hearing their story, he said, "Divide the living baby in half; then give half to each woman." One of the women cried out, "Please, don't harm the baby! Give him to her." The other woman said, "No, let's cut him in half." Solomon then declared, "Do not kill the baby and give him to the first woman. She is his mother.”

However, not all biological mothers are the best at mothering. Some don't responsibly care for their children, and a few of them even mentally and physically abuse their little ones. Also, some mothers never get the chance to give their love to their children: those who pass away leaving their babies, those who lost their little ones, those who have to send their children to others due to circumstances, and those who cannot have children even if they wish to.

"God couldn't be everywhere, so he made mothers." But we shouldn't miss the fact that God made not only biological mothers but also other mothers who go by these names: adoptive mother, foster mother, stepmother, mother-in-law, godmother, and so on. And then there are those, like Mother Teresa, who chose celibacy to serve the marginalized in the world. There are many different kinds of mothers who make this world a beautiful and holy place for those who need care and support, and we need to celebrate their care and sacrifice as well.

Above all, for those who never experienced the depth of mother’s love, Jesus Christ came into this world. The words of today's Gospel are Jesus' prayer to God just before he went to the cross. Jesus says, "I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one" (17:9-11).

This prayer of Jesus sounds like a mother praying to God for her children just before she dies. For those who wander without mother, for those who are hurt by the leaders they trusted to be like mother, Jesus came down into the world and led them to the ultimate beautiful and holy place. Jesus fed the hungry, gave the thirsty something to drink, healed the sick, and befriended the lonely. And eventually, for all who suffer from sin and oppression, Jesus took up the cross and climbed to Golgotha. Golgotha is like the H Mart of all humanity. It's a beautiful and holy place that reminds us of our identity as God's beloved children and our value as God's masterpiece.

The United Church celebrates Mother’s Day as Christian Family Sunday. Today is a day to express honour and respect to the mothers of this world. It's also a day to remind us that we're called to be a family rooted in Christ’s love for those who need a beautiful and holy place. Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the church, where people share God's love. In Christ, we are one, and we are family. May we all support each other with understanding and compassion, and may we all be beautiful and holy places for those who need love and care in South Stormont. 

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Rev. Min Hwang

South Stormont Pastoral Charge

(Ingleside-Newington United Church & St. Andrew's-St. Mark's United Church)

Christian Family Sunday, 2024