Sr. Doreen, SSJD
Hosea 13: 8 I will be to them like a mother bear robbed of her cubs …
The quotation from Hosea is part of the longer story where God points out to the people that over the years the care, the love, and all that they needed … “I’m the one who saved you out of Egypt. I’m the only real God you’ve ever known. … I took care of you during the wilderness hard times and gave you all you needed …you were spoiled. You thought you didn’t need me. You forgot me.”
And so, to bring us back God says “I will be to you like a mother bear robbed of her cubs … I’ll fight for you, destroy all that keeps you from me” … and the next chapters of Hosea continue the story of God’s desire for friendship and God’s continual reaching out to draw people back.
Joyce Rupp in her book “Fragments of your Ancient Name” writes: “Do you care for us that intensely? Do you guard us that devotedly? Is your protection of our sacred soul really as ferocious as a mother bear safeguarding her vulnerable little one? If this is as the prophet Hosea states, then why do I not value more fully the precious gift of your loyal love? Growl in my life every once in a while so I remember your affection for me”.
Every time I experience this, want to belong, want God to draw me back, I turn to some of the words in one of Elvis Presley’s songs and sing it, pleadingly, longingly, to God:
“Love me tender, love me sweet, never let me go. You have made my life complete, and I love you so.
Love me tender, love me true, all my dreams fulfil. …Love me tender, love me long
Take me to your heart for it’s there that I belong and we’ll never part. …
Tell me you are mine; I’ll be yours through all the years ’til the end of time.”
One of the cherished images I hold from Hosea is the constant watchfulness of God-the-Mother-Bear. It is a verse that can break down some of the stereotypes that still linger in some circles, it blurs gender binaries and illustrate that God can be both mother and father simultaneously. Hosea 13:8a takes the imagery of soft, nurturing, and gentle and adds the imagery of violence, strength, and power – portraying God as an all-loving, fierce, and ferocious mother-bear. This is the God we worship, a God who loves us with a love as ferocious as that of a mother bear. A God who loves us tenderly, compassionately, and truly forever. This God is both the tender and strong God who is not inclined to stand idly by while we ignore the truth and worship idols. This God is not interested in avoiding conflict. And this God is the one that offers us unconditional, tenacious, and compassionate love. This is the God that is always there, welcoming us back, welcoming us home, waiting with open arms and a tender embrace, with a smile of joy and gladness. Always!
John Calvin mused that we are often so spirituality sluggish that we sometimes need spiritual shock therapy. This passage by its imagery stuns us with the fierce love of our God. I know that from time to time I need a ferocious growl from God to remind me of God’s affection and love for me, of the affection and love of those around me, and also to remind myself of how deeply I love the God who loves me, and those around me. That growl from God, may it be shock enough to make me run as fast as I possibly can toward the God and all those who love me fiercely!
I share two hymns that seemed to hold this image of God as a mother bear out as an offering or gift to me, one that highlighted the strong, even ferocious and the tender tenacious love that God has for us. Held in the tender embrace of God’s longing for me, I am filled with gratitude for Mother Bear’s affection!
“Come back to me with all your heart. Don’t let fear keep us apart.
Trees do bend, ‘though straight and tall; so must we to others’ call.
Long have I waited for your coming home to me and living deeply our new life.
the wilderness will lead you to your heart where I will speak.
Integrity and justice, with tenderness, you shall know.
Long have I waited for your coming home to me and living deeply our new life.
You shall sleep secure with peace, faithfulness will be your joy.
Long have I waited for your coming home to me and living deeply our new life.”
(Hymn from The Gather Hymn book #484 written by Gregory Norbet, OSB)
And
Deep within I will plant my law, not on stone, but in your heart.
Follow me, I will bring you back, you will be my own, and I will be your God.
I will give you a new heart, a new spirit within you, for I will be your strength
Deep within I will plant my law, not on stone, but in your heart.
Follow me, I will bring you back, you will be my own, and I will be your God.
Seek my face, and see your God, for I will be your hope.
Deep within I will plant my law, not on stone, but in your heart.
Follow me, I will bring you back, you will be my own, and I will be your God.
Return to me, with all your hear, and I will bring you back.
Deep withing I will plant my law, not on stone, but in your heart.
Follow me, I will bring you back, you will be my own, and I will be your God.
(Hymn from The Gather Hymn book #486 by David Haas)
