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| ”The Virgin and the Child with Angels” by Giovanni Baglione, 1600’s |
On Saturdays in Ordinary Time
when there is no obligatory memorial, an optional memorial of the Blessed
Virgin Mary is allowed[1].
Mass texts may be taken from the Common
of the Blessed Virgin Mary, from a votive Mass, or from the special
collection of Masses for the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Reading 1: Galatians 3:22-29
Brothers
and sisters:
(But)
scripture confined all things under the power of sin,
that
through faith in Jesus Christ
the
promise might be given to those who believe.
Before
faith came, we were held in custody under law,
confined
for the faith that was to be revealed.
Consequently,
the law was our disciplinarian for Christ,
that
we might be justified by faith.
But
now that faith has come, we are no longer under a disciplinarian.
For
through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus.
For
all of you who were baptized into Christ
have
clothed yourselves with Christ.
There
is neither Jew nor Greek,
there
is neither slave nor free person,
there
is not male and female;
for
you are all one in Christ Jesus.
And
if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendant,
heirs
according to the promise.
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Commentary on Gal 3:22-29
Recalling St.
Paul’s earlier statement that God would “justify the Gentiles by faith” (Galatians 3:8), he now
releases them from the definition of sin carried under the law. They are now adopted children of God, freed
by Baptism in Christ, equal under the eyes of God in Christ. The apostle closes his circular argument by
repeating that since the Christian faithful belong to Christ they are,
therefore, also Abraham’s descendants, heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven under the
old covenant as well as the new.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
R. (8a) The Lord remembers
his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing praise, play music;
proclaim all his wondrous deeds!
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
R. The Lord remembers his
covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Rely on the mighty LORD;
constantly seek his face.
Recall the wondrous deeds
he has done, his signs and his words of judgment,
R. The Lord remembers his
covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You descendants of Abraham
his servant, offspring of Jacob the chosen one!
The LORD is our God who
rules the whole earth.
R. The Lord remembers his
covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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Commentary on Ps 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
This section of
Psalm 105, a song of thanksgiving, recalls God’s covenant with Abraham, the
promise of the Land
of Canaan
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Gospel: Luke 11:27-28
While
he (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.”
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Commentary on
Lk 11:27-28
This short saying of Jesus is not a
contradiction of the woman who blesses Mother Mary; rather it is an assertion
by the Lord that the message is more important, in his eyes, than that
biological relationship. Mary is more blessed because she heard “the word of God” (see also Luke
1:28-29 and Luke 1:42-45). This passage is consistent in meaning with Luke 8:19-21.
"In the course of her Son's
preaching she [Mary] received the words whereby, in extolling a Kingdom beyond
the concerns and ties of flesh and blood, he declared blessed those who heard
and kept the word of God (cf. Mark
3:35; Luke 11:27-28) as
she was faithfully doing (cf. Luke
2:19, 51)" (Lumen Gentium, 58).[5]
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Reflection:
You are invited to imagine
what it might have been like if you were transported back to the time when
Jesus walked the earth as a man. See the woman who has watched the Lord cast
out demons and cure the sick. Perhaps one of those cured was her own child,
made whole by this holy man. We can see in this picture the gratitude and awe
of the woman who, in a surge of love for the Lord, blurts out; “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at
which you nursed.”
The Lord must have looked at
her with tenderness and compassion. It is his way, so intense is his love for
all people. He must have seen in her the faith that makes his work on earth
possible and in a selfless act, supporting her faith he tells her, gently and
consolingly, “Rather, blessed are
those who hear the word of God and observe it.”
We know that Mary his mother
was probably nearby. She was likely in the vanguard of his disciples. Would
these words have offended her? No, the Mother of our Lord would understand what
her Son was saying to this woman. She would know that God’s Son would give the
woman exactly the words she needed to hear to bring forth the Kingdom of God
No, Mary would have heard the
woman’s blessing of her role in his mission of salvation and have been pleased,
but her own humility would have been echoed in the words her Son gave the
grateful woman. And does she not speak for all of us? His mission has not ended.
He is still here with us, His Holy Spirit works miracles each day and each day
we marvel at God’s creation.
Let our prayer today be a
blessing on the womb that bore him and on the breasts that nursed him. Mary our
Mother would certainly point to her Son and tell us “Blessed are you who hear the words of my Son and follow him.”
Pax
[3]
The picture used today is”The Virgin and the Child with Angels” by Giovanni
Baglione, 1600’s
[4]
The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the
Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for
English in Liturgy (ICEL). This
re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[5]
The Navarre Bible, Gospels and Acts, Scepter
Publishers, Princeton , NJ
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