Mother and Child Reunion

 
 Asia Bibi

Mother's Day is not a Christian holiday, although it has been celebrated in many churches as though it is a saints day, or a lone exception to the practice of idolatry. When I served an outport pastoral charge in Newfoundland in the early 80's I was aghast at the tradition of extolling mothers in worship services with hardly a mention of God.

Today I will celebrate a Pakistani Christian mother who has just been reunited with her children here in Canada. Asia Bibi was an illiterate farm worker who was falsely accused of blasphemy against the prophet, Muhammed, by Muslim co-workers. She was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death. She spent eight years in solitary confinement before she was acquitted by Pakistan's Supreme Court last October.

Bibi's life was still in danger after her release from prison and only recently she was given permission to leave the country. Her children have been in Canada for a while and they are finally back together.

This has been an ugly example of religious persecution and a reminder that even as we decry anti-Jewish and anti-Islamic sentiments we must pray and act on behalf of brothers and sisters in Christ who are targeted because of their faith. 

I have no idea whether Mother's Day is celebrated in Pakistan, but I'm grateful that this family has been reunited here in Canada. Prayers of gratitude are in order.

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