Twenty-Seventh Saturday of Ordinary Time

While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

Jesus reminds us that blessings come from hearing the word of God and observing it and not any worldly connections people might have with him. In this light, we can see that rather than being a rebuke of his mother this statement is actually a reinforcement of his mother’s blessedness. After all, who among us has heard the Word of God and observed it as well as Mary did in her own most humble and obedient life? So it is only natural that we should take Mary as our model for living the Christ-like life. She shows us (through her fiat, hidden life, and suffering at the foot of the cross) how to make our lives into a living “Yes!” to God, to be gratefully humble, and to suffer with patience and without complaint.

Do we listen to the word of God and observe it? How can we learn to be humble and obedient like Mary? Are we ready and willing to give our fiat to God?

O Lord, open our ears to your word.

Amen.