“Honour your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise)

In a letter to the ancient Ephesians, St. Paul wrote

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise),“that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.”

In John’s Gospel, two teachers meet under the cover of darkness. One says to the other.

Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again

The other the narrator of John calls Nicodemus, [whose greek name means Victory of the People] responds.

How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?”

Patriarchal grammar makes it seem like a mother’s womb only produces male offspring. People down through the ages before and after these two teachers met assumed Jesus and the Teacher of Israel were both male. To think otherwise would make both Teachers guilty of adultery and would beg the question. How can a woman and a man caught in the very act of adultery bring honour and glory to their Father and their Mother?

Tradition denies the truth and side steps this question, by making both Teachers male. Later in John’s Gospel, Nicodemus, the Teacher of Israel and member of the Assembly, comes to the defence of the other Teacher lay members of the Assembly identify as the Christ. Thus Nicodemus asks:

Does our law convict a man without first hearing from him to determine what he has done?

Don’t let the word “man” deceive you. For the Teacher of Israel aka John identified as the “Forerunner” in John 3:28-29 and Hebrews 6:20 has this to say about the identity of Christ.

You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. 

Denying the Truth is tantamount to bearing false witness and lying. Some will argue but we have to veil or cover up the truth to protect the children and new converts to the Faith. Lay people and new believers will lose faith in Jesus if they know that Jesus was the Woman caught in Adultery and her co-respondent was Jesus the Forerunner aka Nicodemus?

Many people will simply stop up their ears and cover their eyes and refuse to believe Jesus was ever married or committed any sin. Do you insist Jesus was sinless because he alone was perfect and never sinned? If so you will miss the opportunity to see Jesus as the “sinner” (Luke 7: 35-50) who after disclosing the truth tearfully repents, is forgiven, and shows the disciples the way to love much (Luke 7:47) and honour their Mother, their Father and claim the promise of the Fourth Commandment (Exodus 20:12) given to the Teacher of Israel on Mount Sinai.

In Luke’s Gospel chapter 7, the Sinner Woman anoints the feet of Jesus the Prophet with the oil from her Alabaster Jar and her tears. Simon the Father of the Law and Oral Tradition objects. He thinks to himself…if this man were truly a prophet, he would know that this woman is a sinner. In other words he would acknowledge that he is her adulterous co-respondent. He would come clean and admit that he is the Teacher and Prophet of Israel who met with her under the cover of darkness (John 3: 1-21) and encountered her on the road to Jericho and said. I must stay at your house today (Luke 19: 1-10).

However, until the Rooster crowed and the Truth was revealed, darkness reigned supreme. The Sinner Woman was celebrated as someone who loved much because her many sins have been forgiven. Yet, until the Rooster admitted he was her co-respondent, how could she go and sin no more? How could the demons possessing the Woman Jesus called Mary and the new born Christian in her alabaster arms be cast out? How could she the Bride of Christ ever experience the Joy of John’s testimony…hearing the Bridegroom’s voice as her divinely promised and hoped for Husbandman, the Rock and Anchor of her soul (Hebrews 6:20).

The first Mother’s Day in 1914 in the United States offered an opportunity to recognize the sacrifices and hard work of mothers. More importantly it was an opportunity to honour Godly mothers who put the needs of the family first over their own personal needs and wants.

Now that women have won the right to vote, to become Senators, run for President or Prime Minister, and have the freedom to bear children or not, and assume the role of the High Priest given to Jesus the Forerunner forever (Hebrews 6:20), do you claim this hope (of the Fourth Commandment) as a promise and an anchor for the soul, firm and secure?

Or, has Mother’s Day become an opportunity for you to claim and celebrate the freedom you now have to live out your life as you want and a great occasion to buy gifts and flowers to celebrate modern times and love the one you’re with?

Why The Founder of Mother’s Day Turned Against It