Hear and Observe

~~~ Joel 4:12-21 ~~~ Psalm 97 ~~~ Luke 11:27-28 ~~~

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.”

The woman in the crowd was on the right track.
She recognized Jesus as someone special
maybe even holy or anointed.
She was grateful even for the one who
brought nourishment to Jesus.
She was appreciating Mary, whom she did never met.

Did she know that holiness
gave birth to a greater holiness?

The woman was so confident in her conviction
about Jesus that she called out so everyone
around her could hear her words.

He replied, “Rather, blessed are those
who hear the word of God and observe it.”

The census information about Jesus and his birth parents
was no longer important.
Who nursed him and cared for him
 was not important.

Jesus does not deny her prayer of praise;
He tells her there is more.
His very words are spirit and life.

His physical presence is less important than
the message he is delivering.

Jesus was in fact honoring his mother without
using her as an example.
Mary heard the word of God
and observed it.
No one has given us a better example
of what it means
 to hear and observe the word
than the Blessed Mother.

~~~Peace~~~