The Faith We Sing Hymn Interpretation “Mothering God, You Gave Me Birth,” Number 2050

"Mothering God, You Gave Me Birth," Number 2050
Words: Jean Janzen, based on the writing of Juliana of Norwich (15th century)
Music: H. Percy Smith

As with some other hymns in The Faith We Sing, "Mothering God, You Gave Me Birth" makes use of feminine imagery in depicting God to help us understand and celebrate God's creation and nurture of humanity. In a time when people are nervous about the use of feminine imagery for the persons of the Trinity, it is significant to note that Jean Janzen's hymn text draws upon imagery from a fifteenth century contemplative, Juliana of Norwich. Less thoughtful people will see the upper-case "M" at the beginning of each stanza's first word, "Mothering," and understand it to be a name for God, Christ, and Spirit, or perhaps a feminist rendering of the Trinity, or an attempt to establish and worship feminine deities. In reality, the upper case results from its place at the beginning of the sentence. Further, the word "mothering" is a descriptive adjective, not a name or title.

The line "Mothering God, you gave me birth in the bright morning of the world" is a statement of recognition and thanksgiving for God's creative act in Genesis. In the human birthing process, we do not create life by causing a deep sleep, removing a bone from the man, and using dust and ashes to create a new adult. We understand the science of human procreation and the birthing role of the mother. It is natural for us to believe that God is present in that process today. Indeed, it is natural to say that it is God who remains the ultimate Creator, the ultimate life-giver in the birthing process. It is God who ultimately gives birth to each newborn baby.

When the poet author says God is the rain, wind, and sun, she is not suggesting that God is literally rain, wind, and sun. We understand these as parts of God's creation and necessary gifts to us that provide for human existence. It is a poetic device to recognize that just as God gives us life, God also nurtures and sustains the continuation of life.

Stanza two recognizes that Christ, God incarnate in human form, who literally gave his life for us and who continues to sustain us through the sacrament, also bears a similarity to the role of a mother in human interaction. Here, the poet recognizes one mark of parents, both mothers and fathers: sacrificial love that, if necessary, risks one's own life for the sake of the children.

Stanza three similarly speaks of a mothering aspect of the Spirit in the work of continuing nurture and intimacy, the bringing and growing in the faith.

These images, rather than being attempts to replace the patriarchal God of the Scriptures with feminine deities, help us to experience and understand the fullness of the Trinitarian God in terms of human relationships and experiences.

To comment on this article, contact Dean McIntyre at dmcintyre@gbod..

Posted 4-30-01