Luke 11:27-28 NRSVue

27While he was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!” 28But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!”

Some thoughts on this scripture

Reflection
What do I make of Jesus' reaction here? He risks being blunt with the woman in the crowd and dismissive of his mother.

Reflection
What is he getting at? What does he really want to say?

Reflection
What does it say to me?

Reflection
Here is an encounter with a woman who is attracted, adoring, and envious of Jesus' mother. He responds unexpectedly, not downgrading Mary, but pointing to the source of her blessedness, as her cousin Elizabeth did at the Visitation: Blessed is she who believed in the Lord's promise.

Reflection
There is an echo here of Mary's Magnificat: Henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Luke points to Mary as the one who pondered God's words (hesitating at the Annunciation), kept them in her heart and reflected back on them when she went down to Nazareth.

Reflection
To receive the word of God is a greater gift in the eyes of Jesus than to receive the body of Jesus in the womb. Mary is richly blessed - more for her receiving the word of God in her life and living by it, than being the physical mother of God. Prayer is the time we give in our lives, even daily, to receiving the word of God.