THE DAILY GOSPEL
October 10, 2015 (Saturday) Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12 Rejoice in the Lord, you just! 27th Week in Ordinary Time Psalter: Week 3/(Green) 1st Reading: Jl 4:12-21 Rise up, O peoples, and come to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, nations. Bring a sickle for the harvest is ripe; come and tread for the winepress is full and the vats overflow, so great is their wickedness!
Multitudes and more multitudes in the Valley of Verdict! The day of Yahweh is near in the Valley of Verdict! The sun and the moon become dark, the stars lose their radiance. Yahweh roars from Zion and raises his voice from Jerusalem; heaven and earth are shaken. Indeed Yahweh is a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the Israelites. You will know that I am Yahweh, your God, dwelling on Zion, my holy mountain. Jerusalem will be a holy place, and foreigners will never pass through there again.
On that day the mountains shall drip wine and the hills flow with milk; all the streams of Judah will run with water and a fountain will spring from the House of Yahweh, and water the valley of Shittim.
On the other hand, Egypt will be devastated and Edom will become a deserted wasteland because they committed violence against Judah, and shed innocent blood in their country. But Judah will be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem through all generations. And I shall avenge their blood and not leave it unpunished, for Yahweh dwells in Zion. Gospel: Lk 11:27-28
As Jesus was speaking, a woman spoke from the crowd and said to him, “Blessed is the one who gave you birth and nursed you!” Jesus replied, “Surely blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it as well.” Reflection:
The Gospel is a very popular praise of Mary, given by an anonymous woman in the midst of the crowd. These kinds of spontaneous exclamations are frequent in the south of Spain. As an insult to the mother is a terrible offense, a praise of the mother provokes wonderful satisfaction and is a motive of joy.
Once I remember an old lady telling my mother that according to her, she was a suitable mother of a priest. Both my mother and I who were present, were very happy.
Are we grateful and proud of our mother? It is well to have a good attitude to foster our integration and generosity.
As usual, Jesus transforms the human praise and gives new depth. True happiness is in the accomplishment of the word of God. Let us do an application. As Christians, on the one hand our spiritual Mother in Christ is Mary who we recognize with gratitude. On the other hand, our Mother is also the Church: She begets us in Baptism, instructs us in Catechesis and Homilies, nourishes us in the Eucharist and supports us through the other Sacraments.
Let us be grateful and proud of our Mother, the Holy Catholic Church, and let us contribute to her spiritual maternity through our apostolate and mission.
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