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."
What is the Jesus saying here? Why did Jesus respond to this woman in such a way? Doesn't he obviously love His mother who bore him into the world and nursed him from birth?
Well, yes, infinitely in fact.
He is not saying that His beautiful mother Mary, is not blessed, but rather is extending that blessing to all who hear the will of God and observe it. Did not Mary's yes affect the outcome of the world for the rest of eternity? Then she is in fact blessed because of her perfect observation of the word of God.
Jesus in His response, did not to limit the blessing to only Mary, but in doing so, affirmed her Fiat. And not just her Fiat, but any of our Fiats when we observe the will of the Lord. Jesus does not simply limit the blessings to His Earthly family, but includes His full spiritual family in His response. This is similar to when He tells us that anyone who does the will of God is His mother, brothers, or sisters (Mark 3:35)
I believe this is also the case because if Jesus were to have responded with yes, then He would be glorifying himself, which He does not do. Rather, the Father glorifies Him when He follows His will, and He does the same with all of us. It affirms that Jesus has but one Father and one mission: Perfect alignment with the will of God. Jesus's Father is our Father, and blessed are all those who follow the will of our Father.
To me, this is a call from Jesus to focus solely on the will of God. To ask, listen, and follow through with that which we are asked/called to do. All the glory belongs to the Father. By serving, and listening to the will of the Father, as sons and daughters of God, we inherit His glory.
How can we seek the will of God in our lives?
Where are we focused on the earthly, and where are we called to raise our sights to the spiritual?
What are the practical steps we can take to observe the will of God?
---Jesus also tells us to worry only about today (Matthew 6:34).
What are the steps we can take today to observe the will of God?
Maybe it's doing your laundry, or saying no the cigarette, or chocolate bar. Whatever that thing you don't want to do is, but know you should do... that's probably a good place to start.
"So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love." - St. Paul
Peace be with you,
Jack Terzian
Catholic Worldview Fellow - 2018
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