Jinha’s Monthly Message – May 2024

Traditionally, God is expressed as an image of Father that was formed in patriarchal cultures and systems of Ancient Near East and Medieval Europe. We can find many places in the Bible that describe God as Father. In theology, the traditional doctrine of Trinity also tries to explain God through the image of Father as the head of a family. So, we are also used to calling God as Father in our prayers.

However, if we read the Bible more carefully and responsibly, we can also find many other examples that God is expressed as the image of Mother. In Deuteronomy 32:18, God is the One who gave birth. In Isaiah 66:13, God gave us the image of a comforting Mother. In Isaiah 49:15, God compared Godself to a nursing Mother. In Hosea 11:3-4 and Psalm 131:2, God is portrayed as a Mother who takes care of her child. Here, we can notice that God could be understood not only as the image of Father, but also as the image of Mother. Actually, we cannot fully understand God in our limited human ability. We can only recognize God as much as our capacity allows. The term, Father (or Mother), is like a window to help us to see God. We can see God as much as the frame of the window opens. So, we can understand God through the image of Father (or Mother).

Mother’s Day comes in May. It is the day that we express our appreciation for our mothers. They gave birth to us; they brought us up; they took care of us; and they sacrificed themselves for us. This is a mother’s love that we have to remember. In this meaning, I strongly believe that Mother is the perfect word to show who God is and how God loves us. When you celebrate this Mother’s Day, I hope you have a chance to think about God too as our Mother who endlessly and unlimitedly loves us. Amen.