Saturday 12th October
2019. Read Joel 3:12-21, Psalm 97 and Luke 11:27-28.
_“Blessed is the womb that bore you,
and the breasts that you sucked!” *(Luke 11:27)*_
A woman met Jesus and in deep
admiration said, “how blessed is the womb that bore you…” It was not flesh and
blood that put these words into her mouth. It was just a confirmation of what
had already happened in Luke, chapter one.
When the Angel Gabriel appeared to
Mary, he said, “Hail, O favoured one, the Lord is with you!” Going further he
said: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold,
you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name
Jesus.” (Luke 1:31). As if this was not enough, Mary visited Elizabeth. “And
when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leapt in her womb; and
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry,
‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!’. (Luke
1:41-42)
In her song of thanksgiving to God Mary
herself said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my
Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold,
henceforth ALL GENERATIONS WILL CALL ME BLESSED.” (Luke 1:46-48). Mary was
still alive when people started calling her “Blessed.” It is important to note
that the Greek word for “blessed” (i.e. Makarios), also translates as “happy.”
Now, having said that, it is
interesting to note that Jesus did not rebuke this woman for “idolatry.” Jesus
did not condemn respect for his mother but used the occasion instead to
highlight the importance of hearing God’s word and obeying them. Jesus said to
her: “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke
11:28). In other words, “Happy are those who are not simply listeners but doers
of the word of God.” True happiness comes to us, not from the things of this
world. True happiness comes to us when we practice the Gospel in our daily
lives.
As Joel puts it in today’s first
reading: “And in that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and the hills
shall flow with milk, and all the stream beds of Judah shall flow with water,
and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the LORD and water the valley
of Shittim.” (Joel 3:18) Have you been searching for true lasting happiness? Why
not try God, why not try to be obedient to His commands and see what God has to
offer?
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, help me find
joy in serving you wholeheartedly. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith.
It is well with you. God bless you. (Saturday of the 27th Week in Ordinary
Time. Bible Study: Joel 3:12-21, Psalm 97 and Luke 11:27-28).
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