BLESSED THE WOMB THAT BORE THE WORD


SATURDAY, TWENTY SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Gal 3:22-29; Ps 105:2-7; Lk 11:27-28

The Blessed Womb and Breast

We usually call the earth our mother. We say this because everything material about us comes from the earth and belongs to it. The earth is our mother because it provides the raw material for our being. It sustains us in this mortal life through its provisions; our nourishment from the earth is likened to a mother breastfeeding her children. The earth cannot bring forth the human person on its own, only through the command of the Word of God. Thus, our lives belong primarily to the Word of God that called us into existence. The Word summons us into life, and by that fact, makes us participate in his life according to our human nature. God therefore prepares the earth to be the womb that receives his divine Word, and our nursing mother, nourishing us with her ever-flowing milk. Because of this God-given and important task, Scripture and the Fathers of the Church call us to respect the earth and care for her welfare. The condition of our mortal lives depends largely on the earth’s welfare. The earth’s motherly care manifests God’s loving providence.

The earth is full of God’s wonderful works that are visible to us; for these we must thank and praise him. “O sing to the Lord, sing his praise; tell all his wonderful works! Be proud of his holy name, let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice.” We will have spiritual joy if we let the earth lead us to our spiritual mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Just as the earth conceived the Word of God and brought forth varieties of things to the glory of God, the Blessed Virgin Mary conceives the Word and brings forth children of God, in their varieties and constitutions. These make up the Church of God, the new heaven and earth. Saint Paul expounds this mystery as follows. “Now that that time has come, we are no longer under that guardian, and you are, all of you, sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. All baptised in Christ, you have all clothed yourselves in Christ, and there are no more distinctions between Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female, but all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” These distinctions are for the children of the mother earth only. Those who have received a spiritual birth into Christ’s life are known with new spiritual qualities. Humility ranks as the first spiritual character that sets them apart from the unspiritual.

The Blessed Virgin Mary mystically conceives us in the communion of the Church, nourishes us with the word of God and Sacrament, as we grow into the fullness of the stature of Jesus Christ. She is a type of the Church, for She precedes the Church in keeping the word of God. Just as the mother earth continues her childbearing and nourishing task with or without our awareness, the Blessed Virgin Mary still attends to the birth and welfare of our souls despite our lack of interest in her and condescending thoughts we have of her. Her concern is for us to be mindful of God’s wonderful works of salvation within and about us. But our appreciation and care for her good name among men enhances the success of her work for our salvation. Our Lord, who loves his mother so dearly, did not dishonour her when he responded to the woman who praised her; he gave her a better reason to appreciate the role of his mother, which is more spiritual than material. “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!’” May the spirit of the Blessed Virgin Mary be in us to hear and keep the Word of God. “Consider the Lord and his strength; constantly seek his face. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, the judgements he spoke.” By considering God’s works, we appreciate the earth that bears our mortal life and the Blessed Virgin who bears and cares for our spiritual life and salvation.

Let us pray: Almighty ever-living God, who in the abundance of your kindness surpass the merits and the desires of those who entreat you, pour out your mercy upon us to pardon what conscience dreads and to give what prayer does not dare to ask. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. 

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