‘Mothers like no others’: Pastor Roger Jackson

As the global community on Sunday celebrated Mother’s Day, the pastor at Fenimore Street United Methodist Church (FSUMC) in Brooklyn has urged mothers to “keep right on approaching Jesus in prayer for your loved ones until their change comes.”

In basing his sermon, “Mothers Like No Others”, on Mark 7: 24-30, the Rev. Roger Jackson told congregants that “the prayers and petitions of mothers shall prevail.”

“So, this Mother’s Day, keep loving Jesus and continue to pray,” said Rev. Jackson, stating that the mother in the text for his Mother’s Day sermon had “an unwavering love for her daughter.”

He said the mother’s “unwavering love led to actions that resulted in achieving a remarkable impact on the mental and emotional health of her daughter.”

A section of the congregation during Mother’s Day Worship Service. Photo by Nelson A. King

In the text, this mother is never identified as such but as a “Syrophoenician woman”, Rev. Jackson said.

As a Syrophoenician, he said she had no religious standing to support her in approaching Jesus “and certainly not in asking Him for help.”

But this mother, once she heard what house Jesus was at, did not hesitate in breaking the protocol of the Jewish religious community of her day to get the help that her daughter needed.

Pastor Jackson said this Syrophoenician mother was like no other mother in the community in which she lived, because, while other mothers’ daughters were not demon-possessed, like hers was, “it’s reasonable to believe that deadly and debilitated diseases were in the Syrophoenician community.”

But he said she was the only one who approached Jesus for help.

“So being that she wasn’t part of the Jewish community, where it was not customary for a woman to approach and start a conversation with a man who was not her husband, Jewish cultural decorum didn’t apply to her,” Pastor Jackson said.

“So, this mother had no legal, cultural, or religious standing with the Lord, which meant that Jesus had no Godly obligation to even pay any attention to her, let alone enter into conversation with her,” he added. “And, as result of Jesus having no covenantal obligation to this religious outsider, this mother had no assurances that Jesus would honor her request.

Fenimore Street United Methodist Church Chancel Choir sings ‘We Shall Behold Him.’Photo by Nelson A. King

“But this Syrophoenician mother had to have heard of the miracles that Jesus performed – that led to the healing of others – that assured her that, if He did it before, He will do it again,” Rev. Jackson continued. “But it’s the manner in which Jesus responds to the request of this mother, that’s faith-affirming and faith-inspiring this day.”

He noted that the woman’s daughter had lost a spiritual battle, evidenced by the fact that she was possessed by a demon.

Pastor Jackson said this mother, “who is like no other, becomes the focus of Jesus’ attention and ministry,” adding that this unnamed mother and her unnamed daughter were not in a covenant relationship with the Lord, “because Jesus said so when He heard her request by responding in a way that He did.”

However, Pastor Jackson, said this mother was “completely unselfish in her reply to Jesus’ statement about whose needs are to be met first in God’s Kingdom.

“This mother, who was desperate and believed to be unworthy of the blessings of the Lord wanted her daughter to be healed, but not at the expense of others, who, according to Jesus’ own words, was more deserving,” he said. “And Jesus responded by telling her that ‘for such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.’”

Rev. Jackson said the faith and actions of this mother had “won the day.”

“Love and mercy took charge, and Jesus brought the daughter back into her right mind,” he said.

“For you mothers, you simply have to reach out to Jesus,” he urged. “He’s right here. So, mothers, keep praying because prayers keep changing things.

“All of us love Jesus,” Pastor Jackson continued. “You have to do what this woman did: She humbled herself. “So, this Mother’s Day, keep loving Jesus and continue to pray.”

Mothers Ann Buchanan, left, and Pauline Thomas after Mother’s Day Worship Service. Photo by Nelson A. King

During the two-hour-long service, the Sunday School children also paid a special tribute to mothers, honoring them in poetry and song.

Gail Murray, the Jamaican-born Sunday School Superintendent, told Caribbean Life afterwards that, despite the rainy day, the children “presented a beautiful and touching tribute to their mothers and the women in the church who have nurtured them.

“The children, ages 4 to 12, shared heartfelt poems and a song from ‘Mothers Are a Song’ by Ruby Welsh Wilkins,” said Murray, an assistant public-school principal in Brooklyn.

Daen Blemur, 4, the youngest student, recited, “Hello to Mommy on Mother’s Day,” telling his mom to be happy today, on Mother’s Day, and until the day comes again.

“Dear Mommy, I do love you/Not just today on Mother’s Day/But every day clear through,” she recited. “I want you to be happy on Mother’s Day/And then just keep on being happy/Till it comes around again.”

Twins Noelani and Nicholas Charles, 9, thanked their mother for their birth, and everything she has taught them.

“To her who bore me of the earth/To her who labored at my birth/To her who taught me all of worth/And All of love,” Noelani said. “To her whose tender, loving care/Nurtured the helpless infant there/To her, who first blessed me with prayer/To God above.”

Nicholas intoned: “To her who thought my first step, news/And put my feet in tiny shoes/To keep them safe against the bruise/Of stone and time.

“To her who showed me lovely things/Blue violets and Amazona Guildingii/And told me how each season brings/Its own design,” he added.

Anelia Gordon, 12, thanked her mother for always being by her side.

“Somehow, Mother, you’re always found/Where love and joy and peace abound/It’s almost certain you are there/When songs and laughter fill the air/And yet, if there are tears and pain/I look, and there you are again,” she recited.

“So much you’ll always be a part/Of all that’s closest to my heart/And whether good or bad betide/Somehow I’ll find you at my side/And question not how came you there/Because your love goes everywhere,” Anelia added.

And Angelica Nedd, 11, boasted about her mom, calling her the dearest and best.

“Your gentle greatness can be seen/In so many different ways/And though you’re not at all the type/To glory in such praise/It just can’t hurt to boast a bit/Would even like to SHOUT it/You are the dearest and the best/There’s just no doubt about it,” she said.

Fenimore Street United Methodist Church Sunday School children sings ‘Mommy Loves Me.’ Photo by Nelson A. King

After reading the poems, the children sang “Mommy Loves Me,” to the tune of “Jesus Loves Me.”

“The children did a phenomenal job, and their presentation resonated deeply, leaving a lasting emotional impact on the congregation,” said Murray, who is also president of the Ushers Board at FSUMC.

“Their presentation was lovingly received by all the mothers and grandmothers,” she added.

Besides Congregational Hymns, such as “Faith of Our Mothers”, the Worship Service was also punctuated by renditions from the Chancel Choir (“We Shall Behold Him”) and the Men’s Praise Team (“All I Need is You”; “Give Me a Clean Heart”; “Blessed Be the Name”; and “Lay Down My Burdens”).