"Mother's Day 2002

ove makes the world go around and Mothers are a big part of it. The New Testament contains three distinct Greek words for love and all four are incorporated in a Mother's Love.

"Storge" is the kind of natural love that we all have for people, animals, and things. When you say that you love your car you are really saying that you really like it a lot. You have friends that you care for with this basic level of love. All of us love and respect motherhood, and thus mothers in general. Mother's Day honors all mothers everywhere.

Philadelphia is actually misnamed because "Plilaeo" defines a deeper friendship than brotherly love with the general population. We are fortunate if we have a couple dozen really close friends in life. Common interest or experience is a basis for the beginnings of philaeo. In the Church we love the brothers and sisters through our mutual love in Christ. Mothers have been the ones that have influenced most of us to Christ. Many of our Sunday School teachers have been women who have become like mother's to us and we love them.

"Eros" is far more than romantic infatuation, it is the great experience of marital love. Spouses love and respect each other in this wonderful and unique way. It is the romance we have seen modeled in our homes by our parents that has taught us to become persons who could also fall in love.

"Agape" is God's great love for every creature and our choice to return His love. Agape is the love of God implanted into our hearts whereby we can truly reciprocate the love of God. Divine love is given to us as a result of our salvation. It is the experience that first motivated us to respond to God's call. Agape is often seen on a Christian mother's face as she cradles her child in her arms. Agape is also the love that a believing father can have for his wife and children. Many of us first experienced God's love as children ourselves in Christian homes.

God bless every mother on this special Mother's Day Sunday!