Orphanages do the good work of providing a home for children without parents, but all those involved in an orphanage would agree that they would love to see the children they care for adopted. A man named Sergio Gutiérrez Benitez was a Mexican Catholic priest who founded and supported an orphanage. You may not recognize his name or even his secret identity as Fray Tormenta, meaning ‘Friar Storm”, but you might remember the comedic film based on his life called Nacho Libre. One scene depicts the monk Nacho explaining to the orphans and the nun he has a crush on his daily routine of getting up at 5:00 am to make soup and going to bed every night alone. He prefaced this description by saying, “My life is good, really good,” with a clearly sarcastic tone.
Like Nacho Libre, moms are tempted to view their life with sarcasm. Whether out loud or in their heart a mom might sarcastically say, “My life is good, really good.” This happens because moms suffer a lot for their children. Moms suffer the physical strain of pregnancy and childbirth, nearly sleepless nights feeding, changing diapers and rocking their baby back to sleep, missing out on the discussions in Bible study and the sermon during worship, sleepless nights waiting for their child to come home by curfew and wondering if they are safe once living away from home out on their own. These things among many others that moms suffer are good, but so often moms are met with sarcasm and shame for suffering for the good of their children.
The sinful world mocks motherhood and leaves moms fearful they are not measuring up to what a mom or woman is meant to be. Fear of failure and judgment plague moms. Driven by this fear many moms are very eager for support and help, and in response, many books and social media accounts are dedicated to moms. This need to escape fear and find someone to help was also the situation in our Old Testament reading from Acts 17 as we read, 22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.” The people of Athens were so desperate to have all the right gods that they became very religious to the point of having an idol shrine to a god with no name. For their good, Paul exposed their ignorance and pointed them to the one true God and Jesus their Savior. Moms, you want your kids to be happy and safe, so you pour your time into trying to make that happen with things that may or may not work. The truth is children will face sadness and hurt throughout their lives, and you will not be able to stop it. Our response to preventing sadness and hurt in others so often involves us putting the pressure on ourselves to have God-like savior powers, but none of us can suffer for doing good enough to sacrifice ourselves on an altar to save others.
Christ suffered for doing good to save us. Moms, your fear of your kids being sad or hurt, your fear of failure to protect them, your fear of judgment from them against you for letting them down and your fear of judgment from others on your parenting style was all carried by Jesus to the cross. The crushing weight of fear and fatigue from suffering for doing good is fully known by Jesus and was left behind through his resurrection. Our relief from sin and death and the truth that makes us wise apart from the ignorant world is stated in our New Testament reading from 1 Peter 3, 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. God does not look for perfect moms or dads or children or people to be with him, but all of us who were unrighteous sinners. Through Jesus our unrighteousness was nailed to the cross and the punishment completely paid. Now, through Christ we are righteous in God’s eyes without fear of judgment and at peace. Peter further assures us of our salvation and a clear conscience before God by pointing us to our baptism about which he writes in 1 Peter 3, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. Peter referenced the Flood water as a symbol of eight people being saved from death to point to baptism that saves us from our sins, death and hell. Through baptism God saves us by the power of Jesus’ resurrection proving he overcame sin, death and hell to give us a home with him in heaven.
Children need a home, and today we give thanks for mothers who have made us feel at home until we reach our heavenly home. Providing a feeling of home for children in a house, in the car, on the sidelines, in the bleachers, through a storm, in the doctor’s office, in the principal’s office or in a church pew is part of the good work of motherhood. For this good work that moms do for us, we would expect everyone to give thanks for moms, but that is not always the case. Peter gives moms and all of us encouragement when we suffer for doing what is right in our New Testament reading from 1 Peter 3, 13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened. Remember, being treated well by the world is not the trustworthy indicator that you are good. The sinful standards of others not the standards by which you are judged, nor does anyone in the world have the power to give you life, forgiveness, salvation or purpose. God has set the standard for your life and has met it for you in Christ, so you are blessed. Moms, you are blessed as you make children feel at home wherever they are by doing the good work of sharing Jesus’ forgiveness with your children and teaching them to pray and trust in him.
Moms, there is an answer for the fear in your heart. Christ is the answer as we read in 1 Peter 3, 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. Defend yourself in the mirror, online and to other people with Jesus. There is another scene in the movie, Nacho Libre where in response to being given the unwanted jobs by the other monks at the orphanage Nacho says something to the effect of “They don’t think I know a lot about the Gospel, but I do.” You know Jesus was born at Christmas to the virgin Mary as the Son of God who sacrificed his life on the cross for our sins and rose from the grave on Easter to prove he saved the world. Build on this truth in your heart through Bible study both personally and with others, be in worship and talk with your pastor. We get the word apologetic from this verse, which means an answer or defense of your faith. The message of Christ Jesus your Lord is the powerful defense for you and your children. And Peter continues showing how powerful sharing the message of Christ is in 1 Peter 3, But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. Sharing Jesus is like drinking out of a Stanley water bottle. A Stanely water bottle works best when the top is on because keeps the water from spilling out all at once. Sharing Jesus, law and gospel, sin, grace and forgiveness with your kids and others works well when done with gentleness and respect not all at once to win arguments or force moral behavior. And the Gospel is so powerful that those who speak maliciously against you may be put to shame even to the point of repentance and faith. You are not alone as you wield this great power as Jesus speaks to us in our Gospel reading from John 14, 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Jesus did not leave us as orphans but gave us the Holy Spirit. Some days moms may feel alone though surrounded by baby talk or because the kids do not call or text, but the Holy Spirit is always with you. God is with you so that even as you suffer for doing good, you are blessed and do not have to live with fear. Jesus cares for us and our children best, and we give thanks to him for moms that have told us so.
Orphanages do the good work of providing a home for children without parents, but all those involved in an orphanage would agree that they would love to see the children they care for adopted. Children need parents, and today we especially give thanks for Mothers. Moms suffer the physical strain of pregnancy and childbirth, nearly sleepless nights feeding, changing diapers and rocking their baby back to sleep, missing out on the discussions in Bible study and the sermon during worship, sleepless nights waiting for their child to come home by curfew and wondering if they are safe once living away from home out on their own. Jesus suffered for our good by sacrificing his good righteous life on the cross to save us from our sins. Moms who share Jesus with their children with gentle confidence are doing good. So, moms and my brothers and sisters in Christ, do not be afraid to suffer for doing good for Christ suffered to bring you to God. Amen.
Gunnar Ledermann, Pastor Divine Peace Church
Gunnar Ledermann
I’m passionate about Rockwall’s vibrant community and actively engage with local non-profits and community organizations, including the Rockwall Chamber of Commerce, the City of Rockwall, and the Downtown Rockwall Association. My background includes a bachelor’s degree in Classical Languages and a master’s degree in divinity. Currently serving as a pastor at Divine Peace Church in Rockwall, I also enjoy spending time with my wife, Marinda, and our five children.
