In today’s sermon, Doyt reminds us that we are all called to be mothers regardless of gender because God calls us to protect and care for children. He begins with the story of Mother Mary, who fled to Egypt to protect baby Jesus. This instinct to nurture and protect is not limited to biological mothers—it is a deep, God-given calling that lives in all of us. Anyone—a teacher, coach, grandparent, or friend—can feel that urge to shield a child and ensure their safety. Doyt connects this call to Rachel, the Biblical matriarch, who wept for the children lost to violence and refused to be consoled. Her love and sacrifice remind us that no child is accidental or incidental. Rachel’s spirit lives in those who stand up for children, like the mothers of Playa de Mayo in Argentina, who protested for their disappeared children, demonstrating that a mother’s love is stronger than fear or oppression.
Doyt challenges us to carry Rachel’s legacy forward and ask ourselves if we truly believe that every child matters. He reminds us of the hard truth that valuing power, profit, or convenience over children leads us to justify harm, just as Herod did in the Gospel story known as the Slaughter of the Innocents. Yet, Rachel and the mothers of Playa de Mayo show us another way—a way of relentless love that refuses to stop fighting for children, whether they are near or far. Doyt urges us to embrace this divine calling, to weep with God for the children who are lost or in need, and to act with courage and compassion. As we begin this new year, he invites us to reflect on how we can nurture the children in our community and beyond, knowing that to be a mother to one child is to be a mother to all. May we never stop wailing for the children and working for their future.
Reflection Questions for this Week:
- Doyt preaches on Rachel’s relentless love. How can we, in our own lives, embrace this same spirit of persistence and care for the children in our communities or across the world?
- The sermon reminds us that being a mother is not about biology but about the instinct to protect and nurture. Who has “mothered” you in your life, and how can you live out that same love and care for others, especially children, in this new year?
- Doyt asks if we believe love is stronger than fear and if we truly believe in a God of love. How do we show, through our actions, that every child matters and that we are willing to make sacrifices for their safety and well-being, no matter the cost?