The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

As mothers the world over were celebrated last Sunday, on the island of Abaco Anglicans gathered in great numbers to shower the most important women in their lives with love.

"Mothers are one of the greatest gifts God has given mankind," said Father Chester Burton, Anglican church rector, who highlighted and paid homage to all mothers in attendance at recent services held in the settlements of Sandy Point and Marsh Harbour, where a Eucharist Mass was celebrated at St Martin's and St John the Baptist respectively.

Highlights also included a breakfast prepared by the men of St Martin's for all mothers of Sandy Point, as well as a luncheon for the mothers of St John the Baptist in Marsh Harbour.

Reflecting on the Bible teaching of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Father Burton said it was Mary, who under the power of the Holy Spirit, conceived and named her first-born son Jesus. And it was also Mary who experienced the pain of childbirth and the joy of Jesus' childhood.

"She released him into the world to be a nomadic miraculous messenger and God's only son in human form. With this I posited to those in attendance that motherhood is firstly a miraculous invention from the hand of God. Mary taught Jesus the primary principles of holistic human living. She instilled sound teachings and principles (and so) Jesus in his earthly ministry placed particular importance on woman, sick persons and down trodden members of society. Jesus' mission was to revere and venerate those mothers who lived in that era of Israel. Mary teachings in childhood cannot be replaced but only duplicated," said Father Burton.

He further told the predominantly female congregation for the Mother's Day services that Mary's personality invoked a sense of deep humility, because we how she felt upon receiving mixed reports about her son's ministry.

"Some eyewitnesses spoke highly of his miraculous acts which her son Jesus performed, while other bystanders defamed his character and name and thought he was a lunatic. But yet still Mary pondered all these things in her heart. The Virgin Mary in her capacity as mother of our Lord encouraged Jesus to live his life to the fullest at the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee. She knew that Jesus would listen to her request because if a man treats his mother with the utmost respect and dignity so will he treat his wife, if he is fortunate to find a wife," said Father Burton.

He shared that Mary was resilient and endured a lot of pain, accepting the challenge of being the mother of our Lord. Father Burton said he can only imagine the anguish that pierced her heart when she heard Jesus was arrested and would most likely be put to death by a biased judicial system that wanted Him dead.

Father Burton ended the service encouraging all mothers to adopt qualities such as those epitomised by the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Before leaving the church the mothers were presented with gift bags.