In today’s gospel, while Jesus was speaking to the crowd, a woman suddenly bursted out in with a cry of admiration, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” and immediately Jesus replied, “Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it.” One would immediately recall the Visitation and great encounter of Blessed Virgin Mary and her cousin Elizabeth.
Elizabeth cried out, “Blessed are you among women…how come should I be visited by the mother of my Lord…Blessed are you who believed* that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” Luke 1:42-45.
In today’s gospel passage, Christ affirms the ardent obedience of Mary to the will of God, aptly seen in the first response of Mary to the Archangel Gabriel; Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word (Lk. 1: 38). Mary is therefore, an icon of true discipleship.
Every believer understands that, knowing God is the highest and best form of knowledge; and this spiritual knowledge is a source of strength to the Christian. That means knowing God must necessarily lead to loving Him and obeying His word. Keeping God”s word demands that we must avoid sin; for sin divides us from God and ruptures our relationship with our neighbor.
Keeping Jesus’ commandment of love also entails ; humility and steadfastness, charity and obedience, total commitment and selfless sacrifice, detachment and repentance, perseverance and faithfulness, and much more. The question is, can we truly offer ourselves to Jesus and surrender totally to him? Are you a doer of the word of God or forgetful hearer only? Do you keep God’s word and do them according to His will?
If we believe in Jesus will live and if we fail to believe in Him we are condemned. If we accept him we have eternal life if we reject him we refuse eternal life. Christ is the true light and the light of the world,anyone who refuse his light will remain in darkness. As Christians, therefore. You can not eat your cake and have it.
We must choose the fundamental option of being on the Lord’s side because the days of the lord is much closer to us now than the time of Joel. “The grass withers, the flower fades: but the word of our God shall stand for ever”. Isaiah 40: 8.
Today and everyday, believe, accept and obey the Word of God. The blessings in the Word of God will be upon your household in Jesus name. May your effort in keeping to the way and the ordinances of the Lord make you truly wise and positively unique among your equals.
May God bring upon you his peace, mercy, protection and success as you set out today. May Our Mother, the Cause of Our Joy continue to help us in doing God’s will. Amen.
Who is the flower but our Blessed Lord?
Who is the rod, or beautiful stalk
or stem or plant out of which the flower grows
but Mary, Mother of our Lord, Mary, Mother of God?”-Saint Cardinal John Henry Newman. Pray for us. Amen.
