MOTHERING SUNDAY

READING:
Exodus 2:1–10
 

Called to Rescue the Vulnerable

I wonder who might be given flowers today? It’s Mothering Sunday. Some churches have a tradition of handing out flowers—a symbolic way of saying thank you.
Thank you for caring.
Thank you for nurturing.
A gesture, perhaps, of saying: “We’re thinking of you.”
“Say it with flowers” was the old marketing slogan.
Say what, I wonder? And to whom?

Our Old Testament reading today comes from the book of Exodus. It tells the story of Moses’ birth and his dramatic rescue, featuring three key women whose actions are crucial to God’s plan. Each plays a unique and vital role in preserving Moses’ life, setting the stage for Israel’s eventual deliverance from Egypt.

Focusing on this reading helps us broaden our reflection beyond biological motherhood. It reminds us to honour all those  who nurture, protect, and guide others—whatever their role or relationship.

Three Women Who Rescued a Child

So, who are the women we meet in this story?

• Jochebed, Moses’ mother, who showed fierce love and wise courage.
• Miriam, his sister, who watched over her baby brother and stepped in at the right time.
• Pharaoh’s daughter, an outsider, who chose compassion over power.

Together, these women formed a community of care that protected and nurtured Moses—the child who would one day lead a nation to freedom.
None of them could have done it alone.

I wonder—can you identify with anyone in this story?

Have you ever been one of those people?
Has someone else played that role in your life?

Today, we give thanks for all those who nurture and protect the young. And we reflect on our shared calling to support and shape the next generation.

A Modern Mirror: Adolescence (Netflix)

Have you seen—or read about—the new British crime drama Adolescence?
It’s uniquely filmed in a single continuous take, which draws you deeply into the unfolding story. The series centres on 13-year-old Jamie Miller, who is arrested for the murder of his classmate, Katie.

Through Jamie’s conversations with his family, the police, and a clinical psychologist, we’re drawn into the world of online subcultures—particularly the incel movement—and the powerful influence of social media on today’s youth.

Adolescence has sparked important discussions about the challenges young people face, from online radicalisation to the prevalence of toxic masculinity. Many have praised the series for highlighting the urgent need to address online misogyny and its impact on young minds.
At first glance, this Netflix drama and the themes of Mothering Sunday may seem worlds apart. But they share a core concern:

Who is shaping our children—and how?

Two Stories, One Question

In the story of Moses, we see three women shaping a child’s future with courage, love, and compassion.

In Adolescence, we see the tragic consequences when a child is left vulnerable to darker influences. The drama poses urgent, uncomfortable questions:

• What happens when parental or nurturing voices are absent, silenced, or ignored?
• Who are the voices forming our young people—if not their families, schools, churches, and communities?

On Mothering Sunday, we rightly honour those who nurture.
But it’s also a time to recommit—as individuals and as worshipping communities—to being present among the young:
To offer love, care, protection, and wisdom.
To be part of the “village” they need.

When the Circle of Care Breaks Down

In Exodus, Moses is surrounded by a circle of care. Miriam, his sister, watches from the riverbank—alert, ready to act.

But in Adolescence, Jamie’s life unfolds in the shadows. The adults who notice him are CCTV operators. There is no sister watching, no mother who sees clearly, no outsider who intervenes with compassion.

And though it’s a drama, Adolescence reflects a harsh reality for many children from all sorts of backgrounds.  It’s a wake-up call for us all.

It reminds us that young people desperately need those who will stand watch—not to control, but to guide, support, and intervene when needed.
Are we, as churches and communities, watching over the young people around us?
Do we notice when something’s wrong?
And when we do, do we respond with compassion and help—not judgement or criticism?

The world our children inhabit is complex.
They need adults who are steady, trustworthy, and compassionate.
They need people who, like God, never give up on them.

The Digital World as a Substitute Parent

Adolescence explores how digital spaces can become substitute parents—offering a sense of identity, community, and even a warped kind of belonging.
Without strong, loving relationships offline, the online world can take over.

So this Mothering Sunday, let’s remember:
Real nurturing isn’t flashy, instant, or easy.

It’s found in everyday presence:

• Listening to a child’s questions
• Trying to understand their world without condemnation
• Offering kindness, steadiness, and safety

Just as Pharaoh’s daughter saw a child drifting by and was moved to act, we too are called to notice those drifting past in the rivers of life—and bring them close.

A Challenge to the Church

Adolescence is not just entertainment—it’s a reflection of the world our young people live in. A world in which many of us have been involved with youngsters like Jamie.
And if our churches, communities, and families don’t actively support them, other influences will—and not always with love, truth, or life-giving values.

So the questions and the prayers we bring this Mothering Sunday are these:

• Who are we mothering?
• Are we watching and protecting—or distracted and distant?
• How can we become a nurturing community where no young person falls through the cracks?

Because every child is someone’s Moses.
And every worshipping community—and each of us—can be someone’s rescuer.

Say It with Flowers

“Say it with flowers,” they used to say.

Today, as you receive a flower, let it speak not only of thanks, but also of something deeper.

• A reminder of the vulnerability of every person, made in the image of God.
• A call to pray for the courage to nurture, protect, and guide the young.
• A symbol of your part in a bigger story—the story of drawing children out of danger and into life