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| ”The Virgin and the Child with Angels” by Giovanni Baglione, 1600’s |
Readings for Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time [2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [3]
Readings and Commentary: [4]
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
St. Paul continues his discourse that compares the nature of the Law of Moses to Christian faith in Jesus. Since the law defines sin, the acts against the law became sin. However, through faith in Christ Jesus, the promise of salvation removed that burden. Justification or salvation is received through faith not actions defined according to the law. The apostle is referring here to the argument made by the “Judaizers” that especially Gentile converts must adhere to the full body of Mosaic Law.
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.
CCC: Gal 3:24 582, 708, 1963; Gal 3:27-28 791; Gal 3:27 1227, 1243, 1425, 2348
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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 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.
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.
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.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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Commentary on Ps 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
Psalm 105 is a historical psalm of thanksgiving in hymnic style. This selection is an introduction. It remembers God’s covenant with Abraham, the promise of the land of Canaan, and calls for continued faithfulness. Recalling this historical relationship, the psalmist calls the people to faithful worship. Reference to Abraham’s descendants also provides an image used by St. Paul providing substance to the promise fulfilled in Christ (see Philippians 3:3-8a and Galatians 3:22-29).
CCC: Ps 105:3 30
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Gospel: Luke 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."
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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 within her. How many times had she heard him say, after he had cured a sick child, or had brought a person back from the shadow of death, “Your faith has cured you.”
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? Jesus’ 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
[1] General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar Miscellaneous Notes no. 5: “Outside Advent, Christmas Time, Lent, and Easter Time, on Saturdays which have no commemoration having the rank of Obligatory Memorial or higher, a Mass in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary may be celebrated. This is indicated in the calendar by “BVM.” The readings and prayers may be selected from the
Collection of Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”
[2] The picture used today is ”The Virgin and the Child with Angels” by Giovanni Baglione, 1600’s.
[3] S.S. Commemoratio[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 republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[5] The
Navarre Bible, Gospels and Acts, Scepter Publishers,
Princeton, NJ, © 2002, p. 431.
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