The gospel’s first Saturday of the 27th week in Ordinary Time is taken from Luke 11:27, 28th verse. While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, blessed is the womb that carried you and the breast at which you nursed. He replied, rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it. The woman in the crowd pointed out something beautiful about Mary that she as a human being trusted in a promise that seemed impossible, that she would somehow have growing within her the presence of God in the person of Jesus. And then she nurtured it and cared for it. What Jesus then saying is that that is a great blessing, but it really points to the blessing that everyone participates in, that God comes to everyone whose heart is open and gives them the power to nurse and give life to the people around them.

That’s the great blessing. Take a few moments to reflect on these thoughts and then I will close with a prayer. Foreign closing prayer. Father, in the person of Jesus, you spoke over and over again about the greatest miraculous event in history. God dwelling in human beings. Help us to fathom this great gift.

Help us to feel it and know the power that it gives to us. And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.