Saturday 11^th October – Saturday of week 27 of the year

Reflections: Luke 11:27-28

THE BLESSED OF THE LORD

In the Gospel of today, we see one of the most controversial of the Marian statements, made by Jesus. It stands as one of the few recorded public references of Jesus to His Mother. It ensued after a woman (who obviously was an admirer of Jesus), acclaimed the blessedness of the Mother of Christ. “Blessed is the womb that carried you, and the breast at which you nursed”.  Jesus’ reaction to this acclamation is one that our separated brethren often use in condemning our devotion to our Blessed Mother, Mary.

Let us examine the text a bit. First, we must back up a few days in order to paint a proper picture of the scene. For days, Jesus had being preaching about the kingdom, about asking and receiving, about being for God or against God, and had earned the admiration of the people by His words and action. It was only expected that accolades would start to come. But, this particular accolade was the type that Jesus wasn’t so welcoming towards. The type of accolade that distracts the message. Yet, Christ sets the accolade in its rightful place.

Christ, would rather call those who listen to the word of God and keep it, as the blessed of God. Of them all, the first is Mary, the first who received the word of God and not only kept it, but the word became flesh in her. In this very way, Christ rightly places his mother at the elms, and rightly allows us all, who through her dispensation of grace, keep the word of God to also be blessed.

 To us all has grace been given, but to her has “full” grace been given. We are blessed of God, but she is the blessing of God, whom shall be acclaimed by all generations as BLESSED!

PRAYER: Lord, in your handmaid Mary, we see a shining example of how to do you will, may we who honour her for the graces you bestow on her come to the fullness of your will. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 479 – What can we learn from the way in which Mary prayed?

To learn from Mary how to pray means to join in her prayer: “Let it be to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). Prayer is ultimately self-giving in response to God’s love. If we say Yes as Mary did, God has the opportunity to lead his life in our life.

 HIDE A TREASURE: “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” Luke 11:27 RSV-CE

Readings for Today:  Galatians 3: 22-29; Psalm 104: 2-7; Luke 11: 27-28