October 13, 2012

Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 466

A  Reading from St. Paul's epistle to the Galatians

Gal 3:22-29

Brothers and sisters:
Scripture confined all things under the power of sin,
that through faith in Jesus Christ
the promise might be given to those who believe.

>>>Brethren, the Word of God records that we were confined by sin in order that those who have faith in Christ might receive the promise of eternal life.

Before faith came, we were held in custody under law,
confined for the faith that was to be revealed.

>>>Before the faith of Christ Jesus came into the world, we were subject to the Law of Moses.

Consequently, the law was our disciplinarian for Christ,
that we might be justified by faith.

>>>As a result, the Law of Moses was our teacher, guiding us to Christ that we might achieve righteousnes by faith.

But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a disciplinarian.

>>>But now that the faith of Christ Jesus has been revealed, we no longer need the Law of Moses.

For through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus.

>>>Because through the faith of Christ Jesus we are baptized into the Body of Christ and are born again children of the Father:

Romans 8:15
King James Version (KJV)
¹⁵ For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

For all of you who were baptized into Christ
have clothed yourselves with Christ.

>>>Because all who are baptized in the name of Christ are born again in the Body of Christ.

There is neither Jew nor Greek,
there is neither slave nor free person,
there is not male and female;
for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

>>>We are all one body in Christ:

Romans 12:5
King James Version (KJV)
⁵ So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants,
heirs according to the promise.

>>>And all who belong to Christ are the children of Abraham.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

Response. (8a) The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!

R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.

R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

or:

R. Alleluia.

You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.

R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

or:

R. Alleluia.

>>>Even though we are not faithful, God is always faithful:

Malachi 3
King James Version (KJV)
1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.² But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:³ And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.⁴ Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke

Lk 11:27-28

While Jesus 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."

>>>While Jesus spoke a woman in the crowd yelled out, "Blessed be the woman who gave you birth!"

He replied, "Rather, blessed are those
who hear the word of God and observe it."

>>>Jesus replied, "Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it."

For some reason, Protestants consider that is a rebuke of Our Lady.  They don't realize that interpreting that as a rebuke of Our Lord's mother contradicts Scripture in many ways.

First of all, Scripture says that everyone must honor mother and father (Ex 20:12). If our Lord were denying the blessedness of His mother, that could hardly be construed as giving her honor.

Next, Scripture calls Our Lady blessed many times (Luke 1:28; 42; 45; 48).  Therefore, if Our Lord denied it, He would be contradicting the Word of God.

Third, Scripture also says that Mary heard the Word of God and obeyed it (Luke 1:38; 45).

Therefore, Jesus' words are not a rebuke but a confirmation.  The reason that Mary is His Mother is because she is more perfectly fits the profile of one who heard the Word of God and obeyed it.

Sincerely,

De Maria