grandmothers
LISTENING IS ONE of the most important postures in engaging with the gospel. As Jesus says, “If you have ears to hear, then hear!” (Mark 4:9). This month, we listen to the cloud of witnesses who have shared with us their encounters of the divine. We listen not as passive recipients who accept what is presented unquestioningly; only oppressive systems demand that people listen without asking questions. Rather, Jesus invites us to listen (as we ask and question) because doing so acknowledges the presence of the divine in each one, no matter how different their thoughts may seem from ours.
These reflections open by listening to African American ancestors who have taught us how to read the Bible in ways that are liberating and just. We will also listen with the biblical Samaritans, considered “outsiders” at the time, who provide us with opportunities for self-critical reflections. Next, we recall the breath of God, the Holy Spirit, who inspires us to do good works. Finally, the wise words of the so-called Korean “comfort women” also teach us to listen.
In our world we are bombarded by noise and loud opinions that smother the soul. Listening these days may seem an overwhelming task. We crave quiet and peace. But Jesus calls us to listen carefully and intentionally to voices that are silenced and suppressed. We also must listen wisely.
On the Sunday Gran died, I baptized a little girl sixteen months old. And I was grateful for the unending grace that knows neither limit of time nor space. And, as the water spilled down her rosy cheeks, I remembered how Gran held my firstborn, how Gran held me when I was a child, how I held Gran’s hand for the last time, just a few days before.
With Mother’s Day just around the corner, I’ve been thinking about the matriarchal blessing—the moment when an old woman, staring death in the eye, communicates to a younger female relative or friend that life is good and love is eternal.
As far as I know, the only mention in the Bible of an older woman blessing a younger woman is when Elizabeth says to her young, unwed, pregnant relative Mary: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb” (Luke 1:42). Elizabeth probably wasn’t the matriarch of her family, and she wasn’t about to die, but her Spirit-inspired words were still similar to a matriarchal blessing. She welcomed the new life growing in Mary, and her loving hospitality surely must have given courage to the baffled young mother-to-be.
