Those who hear the word of God and observe it

Jl 4,12-21; Ps 96; Lk 11,27-28
12 OCTOBER

The first beatitude of Scripture is in the Book of Deuteronomy. The last we find in the Book of the Apocalypse. Both are intimately united with the Word of the Lord.

Blessed is the one who reads aloud and blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near (Rev 1, 3). I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” said the Spirit, “let them find rest from their labours, for their works accompany them” (Rev 14, 13). (“Behold, I am coming like a thief.” Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his clothes ready, so that he may not go naked and people see him exposed) (Rev 16, 15). Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These words are true; they come from God” (Rev 19, 9). Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over these; they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for (the) thousand years (Rev 20, 6). And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true, and the Lord, the God of prophetic spirits, sent his angel to show his servants what must happen soon.” “Behold, I am coming soon.” Blessed is the one who keeps the prophetic message of this book. “Behold, I am coming soon. I bring with me the recompense I will give to each according to his deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Blessed are they who wash their robes so as to have the right to the tree of life and enter the city through its gates. Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the unchaste, the murderers, the idol-worshipers, and all who love and practice deceit. I warn everyone who hears the prophetic words in this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words in this prophetic book, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city described in this book (Cf. Rev 22,6-19).

The Mother of Jesus is blessed because she too passed through the path of faith in the Word of the Lord, made to come to her through the Archangel Gabriel. Mary’s blessing is the fruit of bliss. Bliss is the fruit of faith. Maria believed. She conceived. She gave the world the Author of life, the Son of the Most High.

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. During those days Mary set out and travelled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled” (Lk 1,38-45).

Mary is not blessed because she conceived the Lord’s Messiah. She is blessed because she believed, she handed herself entirely over to the Word of her God. She listened. She obeyed. She gave her life entirely to the service of her God and Lord.

While he 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.”

The greatness of Jesus and his bliss are not in the works he is doing. The works are a fruit. They are the fruit of his perfect obedience to his Father. No human greatness is true greatness unless it becomes eternal greatness in the kingdom of God. When does it become eternal greatness? When it is the fruit of our obedience to the Lord. Without obedience to the Word, greatness is ephemeral. It’s a flash of straw. It lasts a moment. Then everything will be burned in the eternal fire of hell.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints, obtain for us the gift of the greatest obedience to the Lord.