First reading Joel 4:12-21
The day of the Lord is near; sun and moon grow dark
The Lord says this:
‘Let the nations rouse themselves, let them march
to the Valley of Jehoshaphat,
for I am going to sit in judgement there
on all the nations round.
Put the sickle in:
the harvest is ripe;
come and tread:
the winepress is full,
the vats are overflowing,
so great is their wickedness!’
Host on host
in the Valley of Decision!
For the day of the Lord is near
in the Valley of Decision!
Sun and moon grow dark,
the stars lose their brilliance.
The Lord roars from Zion,
makes his voice heard from Jerusalem;
heaven and earth tremble.
But the Lord will be a shelter for his people,
a stronghold for the sons of Israel.
‘You will learn then that I am the Lord your God,
dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain.
Jerusalem will be a holy place,
no alien will ever pass through it again.’
When that day comes,
the mountains will run with new wine
and the hills flow with milk,
and all the river beds of Judah
will run with water.
A fountain will spring from the house of the Lord
to water the wadi of Acacias.
Egypt will become a desolation,
Edom a desert waste
on account of the violence done to the sons of Judah
whose innocent blood they shed in their country.
But Judah will be inhabited for ever,
Jerusalem from age to age.
‘I will avenge their blood and let none go unpunished’,
and the Lord shall make his home in Zion.
Responsorial Psalm 96(97):1-2,5-6,11-12
Rejoice, you just, in the Lord.
The Lord is king, let earth rejoice,
let all the coastlands be glad.
Cloud and darkness are his raiment;
his throne, justice and right.
The mountains melt like wax
before the Lord of all the earth.
The skies proclaim his justice;
all peoples see his glory.
Light shines forth for the just
and joy for the upright of heart.
Rejoice, you just, in the Lord;
give glory to his holy name.
Gospel Luke 11:27-28
‘Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!’
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!’
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Listeners and doers of God’s word
A woman in the crowd is struck by Jesus’ words and acknowledges Mary, His mother, as blessed for bearing and nurturing Him. Jesus emphasises that true blessing comes from hearing and obeying God’s word. In fact, Mary is richly blessed, and she serves as the perfect example of someone who listens to God’s word and puts it into practice in her life. She is truly blessed, not because of her being chosen to be Jesus’ mother, but because of her unwavering commitment to hear and do God’s word. We see her hearing and doing God’s word during the Annunciation when she said “Yes” to be the Mother of God and continued with her ongoing acceptance of God’s plan throughout her life, even in the face of challenges and uncertainties.
Listening to God’s word, assimilating it, and putting it into action can be quite challenging. Often, we have good intentions but struggle to follow through and live out according to what God wants from us. Let us ask Mother Mary to guide us in following her example of listening to and living out His word.
Reflective question:
How can I translate God’s word into action today and throughout the week?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
