Gospel Reflection

October 13, 2012

Saturday - Weekday – Year of Faith

by Rev. Fr. Dave Buenaventura, (SDB)

Mass, St. John Bosco Parish Church, Makati

Reading 1 Gal 3:22-29

Brothers and sisters: 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 descendants, heirs according to the promise.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (8a) The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
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.
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Gospel Lk 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."

HOMILY

Allow me to share with you a very brief reflection on our very short Gospel for today’s liturgy. 

We heard in the Gospel, when the woman in the crowd praised Jesus by praising Mary, Jesus did not deny the truth of what the woman pronounced. Jesus confirmed what Mother Mary said to herself, “All generations will call me blessed.” But Jesus adds something more to what the woman said, by pointing to the source of the blessedness and the happiness of his Mother, and this is Mary’s union with God – that was the source of the blessedness and happiness of Mother Mary.

Mary humbly submitted herself to the miraculous plan of God, for the incarnation of His only begotten Son. The Word of God was made flesh in her womb. Mary declared, “I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to Your Word”. Mary heard the words spoken to her by the Angel and she believed it. On another occasion, Jesus pointed what it meant to be united with God. In Luke Chapter 8, verse 24, we read this: “Listen to the Word of God, and live it in your daily life." Do this and you will be united with God.

My dear brothers and sisters, our goal in life - the very reason we were created in the first place - is for union with God. We were made for God, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Him. These are the words of St. Augustine. It is said that a Christian's only relatives are the saints - men and women united with God. Those who follow Jesus and do the will of God enter into a big family - the family of saints here on earth and in heaven. The Lord changes the order of relationships and shows that true kinship is not just a matter of flesh and of blood, but rather, it is a matter of flesh, of blood, and of the spirit. 

My Word of God for you this morning is this: "Though my heart is restless until it rests in You, let me know the joy of Your presence, and increase my hunger for Your Word. May I always prefer Your will over my will, and seek to please You in all things, Amen."