Today’s Gospel is a short exchange between Jesus and a nameless woman, found only in Luke’s writing. This woman was so inspired by what Jesus was saying that she spontaneously uttered a blessing, directed at Jesus’ mother.

Jesus, without doubt, had the highest regard for his mother, yet he redirects the woman’s words to a much wider group, ‘More blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.’ Jesus’ mother was also a significant member of this much wider group. She, more than anyone else, heard the word of God and kept it. Jesus is saying that if his mother is blessed, it is not so much because she is his mother but because she gave herself over to ‘listening to’ and ‘acting on’ God’s word. Jesus is telling us that if we listen and let our actions ‘speak’ God’s word, we will be just as blessed.

In the first reading, Paul reassures us that we have been justified in Christ; we are now sons and daughters of God through faith. This is all the more reason for us to be attentive to our loving Father.