Article August 3, 1968 Issue

Human or Divine Parenthood?

HARRIETTE MELDRIM HILL

"Who is my mother?"^{Matt. 12:48;} asked Christ Jesus when he was told that his mother and brothers wanted to speak with him. With this startling question he aroused the thought of his students and then pointed out that his true relatives were those who did the will of his heavenly Father. Now, Jesus was not rejecting his human mother. The fact that he loved her is brought out poignantly in his tender solicitude for her when she stood by his cross. Gently he entrusted her to the care of his beloved disciple, John, saying to her, "Woman, behold thy son!" and to John, "Behold thy mother!"^{John 19:26, 27;}

The fact is that, early in his experience, Jesus had become aware of his relationship to God. When he was only twelve years old and his mother expressed her concern because she thought he had been lost, Jesus replied, "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?"^{Luke 2:49;}

In the Lord's Prayer Christ Jesus pointed out our true relationship to God in the words, "Our Father which art in heaven."^{Matt. 6:9;} Mrs. Eddy makes it even clearer with her spiritual interpretation of this line, "Our Father-Mother God, all-harmonious."^{Science and Health, p. 16;} The concept of God as divine Parent, tenderly caring for His children, is particularly appealing. A child implicitly trusts his parents, and he will readily accept the idea that God is the Father-Mother of all. Then it becomes natural for him to turn to God for guidance and comfort whenever he is in need of help.