Beloved in Christ,
Today, we offer hymns not only from our lips but from the very depths of our hearts, giving thanks to God who, in His ineffable wisdom, gave us the sacred gift of motherhood. Let us remember that in honoring our earthly mothers, we also glorify the divine mystery by which life is granted, nurtured, and offered back to the Creator.
From the beginning, when Eve was called the mother of all the living, the role of the mother has been sanctified. Though Eve fell through disobedience, it was through her lineage that the Second Eve, the Most Holy Theotokos, was born—she who gave flesh to the Incarnate Word without the seed of man, preserving both virginity and motherhood in perfect harmony.
What greater honor could be given to motherhood than that the Eternal Son chose to be born of a woman? “Behold, the handmaid of the Lord,” said the Virgin, and through her obedience, the curse of Eve was overturned. She bore God in her womb, nursed the Nourisher of all, and stood at the foot of the Cross as the sword pierced her soul.
Mothers, then, are icons of sacrificial love. In their patience, they mirror the long-suffering mercy of God. In their intercessions, they are as fervent as the widow who cried to the unjust judge. In their tenderness, they echo the Lord’s words: “As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you.”
Let us not forget the holy mothers of the Church: Saint Monica, who wept for her son Augustine until the Lord granted his conversion; Saint Emmelia, the mother of saints; Saint Sophia, who raised her daughters in virtue and stood firm in their martyrdom. These were not just bearers of children but bearers of faith, wisdom, and steadfastness.
On this day, let us honor our mothers—those who are with us and those who have fallen asleep in the Lord. Let us bless them not only with flowers and gifts, but with prayers and righteous lives. Let children rise up and call them blessed, and let husbands praise them, as the Scriptures proclaim.
May the Most Holy Theotokos intercede for all mothers. May she comfort those who long for children, strengthen those who struggle in their vocation, and bring peace to those who mourn. Through her prayers, and through the prayers of all the righteous mothers who have gone before us, may the Lord grant mercy, health, and eternal life to them all.
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Glory forever!
