1.  TEXT: The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke 11:27-28

Every word of God has significance for us, the hearers and doers of the word of God.

We dare not carelessly gloss over any of what God has recorded for us to hear, in order that we might become doers of the word of God for the greater glory of God.

Here, we have an example.

Sadly, for many years, this passage served as an example of what I ignored to my own peril, when I was a separated brother in Christ.  While I followed Jesus, I did not see the significance of Maria, our Mother, and the beautiful role that God has entrusted to her in the story of our redemption through Christ!

Let us hear this passage in context.

27 As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!"

As he said what?

The Lord had just made the following statement -- 

24 "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through water less places seeking rest; and finding none he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.'
25 And when he comes he finds it swept and put in order.
26 Then he goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first."

Now, the woman in the crowd says-- "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!"

I believe this to be most significant to the context.

It seems to allude to the story of the vision of the Woman in Heaven, crowned with twelve stars and the sun and the moon.

Recall with me that there was a water less place, where the Woman would flee.  Then Satan and his fallen ones would pursue her into the wilderness, as she flees to the place prepared for her by God.  Her seed is with her in the wilderness.

Satan is a master of the wildernesses of life, and a master of chaos.  He seeks our destruction and calumny.

When an unclean spirit is removed, it goes out to where there is no water, the wastelands, to the place of banishment.  It wanders and waits for another victim, another one it may seek to overcome through temptation.  But, there is no rest for the wicked ones, so, this spirit brings seven (a number of fullness/ completion) other spirits to take over where it left off.  This is the way of the evil one.

Evil persists.

Yet, God is greater than evil, and, the evil one.  Satan is a defeated foe, and, we await the consummation of all things, eschatologically, to see this reality.

And, that consummation by Jesus Christ will come through Mary.

Revelation 12 says it best, because, just as Genesis 3:15 promises victory through the woman, so, Mary is assumed and coronated (Revelation 12) to show us the ultimate (beatific vision of) the reality in the plan and purposes of God.

So, we hear with this cry of the woman, the rejoinder of Jesus, who completes the proclamation of that reality which St. John will proclaim in the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

28 But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"

We have heard the word of God.

The question is -- Do we KEEP it?

We may KNOW what the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is and join into the festivities and the special celebrations, but, Maria calls us most intensely to her Son, Jesus Christ -- into the obedience of the Faith!

Mary always tells us by example (our Sanctissima) to humbly follow our Lord Jesus Christ, even as she did and does always.  In fact, it is St. Paul’s desire to present us to Jesus as a "chaste virgin," (II Cor. 11:1-6)

How willingly do we follow and keep the word of God, beloved?

To KEEP the word of God means to love Jesus above all things, because HE is the chief Object of the love of Mary.  Mary desired only to do the will of her Son, Jesus.

Yes, it is true --  

27 As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!"

Yes, it is also true for us to respond to this truth -- 

28 But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"

Let us do likewise.



Deus et Sanctissima.

2.  TEXT: The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke 1: 39-56

Of all the stories that have come to us, this is one of the most compelling and significant.  This is the fulfilment of all the Old Testament looked forward to in the coming of the Blessed Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ!  But, the story centers upon Mary, the Mother of God.

Doctor Luke presents this from Mary’s perspective, for this is her story, as she gave it to the Evangelist, St. Luke.

39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah,
40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit
42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

Amongst all women, Mary was most blessed.

It is hard for those who were born "cradle Catholics" to realize the depth of truth revealed to the Church on this matter.  For those of us where were born within the brothers and sisters who were separated following the "reformation" of the early 16th century and following, we are surprised by joy to find such a wonderful dogma as that of the Blessed Virgin being assumed into heaven following her dormition, being raised from death, even as we shall all be raised.

Mary is most blessed, because her destiny foreshadows that destiny in Christ of all of us.

With Elizabeth, we might say, as we behold Mary, the Mother of our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, the following words --

43 And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy.

How Mary causes joy to come to my heart, when I hear her coming to spend time with me in Jesus.  She brings us so closely to Jesus.  We must see this, for it was within her womb that Yahweh became the Man, Christ Jesus, Messiah of Israel, gestated. . .just think of it ! . . . the God-Man gestated and became Immanuel within her.  How intimate was that relationship between Mary and Yahweh.

The Incarnation through Maria is indescribable in the depth of its significance.

The Magnificat that follows is so deep in its meaning that only Mary (Immaculate) in perfect union with Yahweh, as Yahweh spoke through her in that union for us to hear, could have uttered the words of God for us to KEEP.

Recall these words again from the Vigil Mass --  27 As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!" 28  But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"

Let us also believe with Elizabeth, beloved of God.  Let us hear Mary speak and listen to her "works" and "words," as she speaks to us the word of God.

Mary preaches Jesus well.

Elizabeth sees this --

45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."

So, Mary proclaims what is the ultimate Gospel declaration in form and substance for us to hear and act upon in these last days for the Church, while we go with her into the wilderness there to dwell with her as the pilgrim people of God who live in that place prepared by God for her.

46 And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,

May we always magnify the Lord Jesus with her.

47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

May we always rejoice in God our Savior, for he is our only Savior.

48 for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;

Remarkable glory of this prophetic utterance by this woman promised in Genesis 3:15, 16.  Satan is a defeated foe, because Mary said - "yes," and became God’s "yes" to the defeat of the enemy of our souls, through the power of the Fruit of her womb.  She, Mary, rejected the forbidden fruit, and, accepted the Fruit that was to become the King of kings and Lord of lords and usher in the reign of Christ, yes, even through a woman, the woman who utters these words.

She is assumed into heaven, because she is to be crowned and glorified, because God honors those open to his graces -- who humbly obey him with heart, mind, body and soul.

Mary realized this in a singular way in the grace of God.

49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation.

I am told, now, by Mary, that God is able to do mighty things for you and me too.  Is this not the era of Divine Mercy before the great chastisement?

51 He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,
52 he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree;

The arm of the Lord is not shortened that it cannot save.

God reaches out and saves any and all who call upon his Name.

Just as we are, God comes and calls -- how will we respond?

Shall we, with Maria, say -- "yes?"  Or, will we with Satan, say -- "no?"
I declare my "yes" to God today with Mary!

I was hungry and God filled me through the intercession of Mary, here.

53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever."

How comforting is such a Mother like Mary.  I dare say that no mother on earth could equal her in the ability and graces to comfort.  God the Father poured all of his graces into this woman, beloved, that the whole world might have a real Mother and a Good Heavenly Father!

56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home.

May she abide with us in this month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (August), and, may we see her more clearly in her resplendent glories thru Advent and Christmas.



Deus et Sanctissima.