God Our Grandmother

As we ponder these ferocious, ancient stories of Jesus’s fierce grandmothers, perhaps we could take a moment to wonder together about what theologian and author Kat Armas calls “abuelita theology.”

“Abuelita theology” is that theology of survival no seminary can teach. Feeling grateful this morning for all of the abuelitas out there, including my own, who taught us a thing or two about faith & will.

A theology of survival, of faith and will, about how God shows up in the hard and messy places of our lives, in our despairs and triumphs, pain and joy.

Have you ever stopped and allowed yourself to imagine God as grandmother? Let’s try a little devotional experiment. Pull to mind an image of the most amazing abuelita you know - strong, loving, persistent, wise. Keep her face in front of you mentally as you read this parable Jesus gave of how God is at work in the world.

He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.” - Matt. 13:33

Sit with this image and allow it to shift and change inside of you. What is it Grandmother God is working on with such patience, determination, muscle? What goodness is She working through your life? What joy and healing is She holding in her hands for the world around us?

Just sit. When you’re ready, say amen.