27th Week in the Ordinary Time - Saturday

27th Week in the Ordinary Time - Saturday (Year II)

8th September 2022 (Saturday)

Being blessed!

Dear Brothers and Sisters, we are on the Saturday of 27th week in the ordinary time. Today we are reflecting on the theme "God's will"

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For more certainty the Readings are posted from the Catholic Lectionary {alertInfo}

Reading of the Day

First Reading: Galatians 3:22-29

Brethren: The Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptised into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

Psalm 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 (R. 8a)

Response: The Lord remembers his covenant forever. or: Alleluia.

O sing to him, sing his praise;

tell all his wonderful works!

Glory in his holy name;

let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice. Response

Turn to the Lord and his strength;

constantly seek his face.

Remember the wonders he has done,

his marvels and his words of judgement. Response

O children of Abraham, his servant,

O descendants of the Jacob he chose,

he, the Lord, is our God;

His judgements are in all the earth. Response

Gospel Reading: Luke 11:27-28

At that time: As Jesus said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!" But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"

Reflection

The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertSuccess}

Main Theme: Being blessed!

Indicative: Real greatness is liberation from the imprisonment of sin. Sin takes away our freedom and brings upon us curse{alertWarning}

There is a constant fight and war between God and Satan, good and bad. It is a fight that God owns up on our behalf. He justifies us by faith. Through Jesus, we are reconciled, cleansed and made God’s children. Thereby we put on Christ. Thus, we become God’s royal inheritance without any discrimination.

That is why Paul affirms this perfect equality, saying, “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus… heirs according to promise.”

This is the right blessedness that Jesus utters and offers. To the one who acclaims, “Blessed the womb that bore you,” intending to praise his mother Mary, Jesus clarifies that true greatness does not come from allegiance to a region or religion, or physical lineage or cultural heritage.

Apparently, there is a belittlement of his mother. But actually, there is an elevation in the right perspective, for the right reason. Mary is great and blessed not by the mere physical belonging and allegiance as the mother of Jesus. She is blessed because she “hears the word of God and keeps it.”

Thereby, all of us are exhorted to seek such blessedness by the Spirit. It is a blessedness by our spiritual bonding and communion. The ultimate criterion to belong to Christ and his family is to listen to God’s voice and will and follow it.

Imperative: Blessed are those who become God’s children, not by tradition but by devotion and relation, direction and dedication{alertWarning}

Video Reflection

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