Can you hear Him?

Luke 11:27 - 28

Now as Jesus was speaking, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, ‘Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!’ But he replied, ‘Still happier those who hear the word of God and keep it!’

Surely a contender for the shortest Gospel in the year. And, as many of the writings that mention Mary, fairly dismissive of Jesus' mother. What must the Marian devotees think? For today, Mary is often celebrated as almost an equal to the Trinity - Queen of Heaven - and here in one of her special months she is somewhat slighted in her role as a mother. Or is she? For Jesus' reply rejoices in those who hear and obey God's word, and surely that is what Mary did?

Of course she did, but she was not just a production unit acquired by an angel, her obedience to God did not end with Jesus' growth into manhood. It is clear that she accompanied him in his ministry - for it really wasn't just the Lord and twelve apostles walking the dusty roads of the Galilee region, it was their families, the disciples that came after the twelve and the women.

For women are not just mothers or daughters, men are not just fathers or sons; we are all brothers and sisters who have 'put on Christ' to become more than any 'role' we are given by society or tradition.

Before anything else, we belong to God from the second of our conception (or before) until eternity; hearing and obeying God's Word means knowing that that is true and living our lives with the conviction of all that that entails.

wordinthehand2008

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