Message: Never Left Alone / John 14:15-21

Today is the Sixth Sunday of Easter. It is also Mother’s Day, and in the United Church of Canada, we celebrate this day as Christian Family Sunday. In this service, we give thanks for the love of mothers, the gift of family in all its forms, and the promise that the risen Christ walks with us and never leaves us alone.

Across times and places, the word “mother” has carried deep meaning. In many cultures, it is connected with life, care, love, and protection. One of the important Confucian texts, The Great Learning, teaches that if a political leader serves the people as a mother cares for her children, even if things are not perfect, they will not go far wrong. No one becomes a mother with all the answers. Children grow through love, watching, waiting, feeding, protecting, and attentive care for life. The image of “mother” reminds us that the most important quality of leadership is not perfect knowledge or power, but a heart that notices, nurtures, and values life.

The Bible also uses motherly images to speak about who God is. God is described like an eagle caring for its young, and also as a woman in labour giving birth. Of course, God cannot be limited to one gender. God is not male or female in the way human beings are. God is beyond our language and images. But what the Bible tries to show us is that God is not an abstract idea. Throughout history, people have experienced God as a real source of life through images we can easily understand. God comes to us with a love that holds life, waits through pain, and brings life forth. A mother can be an important bridge for understanding something of God’s heart.

But we need to be careful not to idealize the word “mother.” For some, it brings gratitude, joy, and meaning. For others, it can carry longing, hurt, or pain. Each person lives in their own universe. In that universe, the image of “mother” exists in a unique way, shaped by their own experience. In one universe, “mother” may be like the sun that lights the world. In another, it may be like a comet that circles the planet of “me.” In another, it might be like an asteroid that passed by for only a moment. In still another, it may feel like a black hole that pulls in even the light and leaves everything around it in darkness. For this reason, it is dangerous to speak about “mother” in only one general way.

The Bible offers stories that reveal the complexity of a mother’s love. One of them is about Rebekah. She had twin sons, Esau and Jacob. The Scripture describes the family dynamics as follows: “Isaac loved Esau, because he was fond of game; but Rebekah loved Jacob” (Genesis 25:28).

Why did she favour Jacob? The Bible does not fully explain it, but simply describes the contrast between the brothers: “Esau was a skilful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents” (Genesis 25:27). Perhaps Rebekah saw Jacob as the child who needed more protection because of his quiet nature. Or perhaps she did not want the younger one to be pushed aside.

But Rebekah’s love also caused another wound. She helped Jacob receive Isaac’s blessing, which was meant for the eldest son, Esau. Jacob dressed like his brother and deceived his father, and he received the blessing. When Esau found out, he cried out in grief. His tears were not only about losing a blessing. They may also have held the pain of betrayal by his mother and his brother.

Rebekah did not hate Esau. As a mother, she only tried to stand more with Jacob, who might have been easily overlooked. But deep love for one child became a wall that the other could not understand. Human love cannot be perfect. Even when it does not intend to, it can sometimes leave wounds.

It is true that there are mothers who are selfish, harmful, or abusive toward their children. That pain is real, and it must never be minimized.

At the same time, there are also wounds that come from misunderstanding or unmet expectations. No human being is perfect, yet many people expect mothers to be perfect. When that expectation is not met, disappointment can follow, and sometimes it can leave lasting wounds in the heart.

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus speaks into such pain, hurt, and brokenness, saying, “I will not leave you orphaned.”

Human love sometimes has limits. We may be disappointed. We may feel hurt. We may misunderstand one another. But even in those moments, God does not leave us alone. God invites us to experience true love and care.

As Jesus prepared to walk toward the cross, he said to his disciples, “I will not leave you orphaned,” and promised to send the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is not a mysterious power. The Spirit is God’s presence that keeps the love of Jesus alive among us. The Spirit helps us remember the grace of God shown through the cross and resurrection of Jesus. 

Jesus called the Spirit the “Advocate.” This means that Jesus himself was first the Advocate for his disciples. Jesus stood beside them. He taught them, fed them, protected them, washed their feet, and called them back when they failed. Now Jesus was about to leave, but he did not abandon them. The Spirit would come and continue to make the presence and work of Jesus known among them.

Through this Spirit, the church was born. Therefore, the church is a community where people celebrate God’s presence and experience the Holy Spirit as the Advocate. The Spirit does not remain only inside individual hearts. The Spirit works among the community.

Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” The presence of the Spirit is shown in the way we live. The greatest commandment Jesus proclaimed is to love God and to love our neighbours. This love works through actions. It feeds the hungry. It welcomes those who have been pushed aside. It does not leave fearful people alone.

So, when the Spirit is among us, we are called to become small advocates for one another. We stand beside one another. We listen. We weep together. We rejoice together. We walk together. This is the family of God, a community that cares for one another.

Today Jesus says to us, “I will not leave you orphaned.” This promise is not given to perfect people. When Jesus said this to his disciples, he knew that they would run away when he was arrested. It was given to people who would be afraid. It was given to people who would fail. Even so, Jesus did not leave them.

Today Jesus says to us, “I will not leave you orphaned.” This promise calls us to be the family of God. Being God’s family does not mean becoming a large and powerful religious organization. It means contacting someone who has not been seen for a while. It means creating a place where all are safe and welcome. It means encouraging those who are tired from caring for family. It means remembering those who live alone. It means being gentle and careful with those for whom Mother’s Day is painful.

On this Mother’s Day, we give thanks for a mother’s love. We also remember not only biological mothers, but also those who have made a place of love in our lives. At the same time, we remember those who miss their mothers, those who grieve for children, those whose relationships with their mothers are difficult, those who are tired from caring for family, and those who feel alone.

The risen Christ is among us through the Spirit, so we are not alone. In the Spirit, we are called to be a family rooted in God’s love. May the promise of Easter live and breathe in our lives today as we stand beside one another through the Holy Spirit, so that no one is left alone.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Rev. Min Hwang