True Blessedness: Hearing and Keeping the Word of God

True Blessedness: Hearing and Keeping the Word of God

Reflection on Luke 11:27-28

Scripture: Luke 11:27-28

"As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, 'Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.' He replied, 'Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.'"

In this brief yet powerful moment from Luke’s Gospel, Jesus redirects a compliment not away from His mother, but toward the deeper reason why she is truly blessed. A woman in the crowd, filled with admiration, praises Mary for being the mother of Jesus. It’s a natural and heartfelt exclamation. After all, what greater honor could there be than bearing the Son of God?

But Jesus doesn’t reject the statement—He redirects it to emphasize something even more important. He says, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” This isn’t a contradiction or a dismissal of Mary's role, but rather an elevation of the true source of blessedness: hearing and obeying God's Word.

We might wonder why Jesus, at this moment, chose to shift the focus. But in doing so, He teaches a profound truth. True blessedness does not come from external associations, titles, or even familial ties to holiness. It comes from an interior disposition—a heart that listens to God and allows His Word to shape thoughts, decisions, and actions.

Mary herself is the perfect example of this. When the angel Gabriel visited her, she responded not just with curiosity or fear, but with a deep openness: “Let it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38) That was the moment of her true blessedness—not only because she bore Jesus physically, but because she bore the Word of God spiritually in her heart and life.

In our lives today, we are constantly bombarded by voices—social media, news, advertisements, even the noise in our own minds. Yet Jesus reminds us of what truly matters: the Word of God. To hear it… and to obey it.

But that isn’t always easy. Hearing God’s Word requires silence, attentiveness, and humility. Obeying it demands courage, surrender, and trust. It calls us to go beyond mere admiration of Christ—to follow Him, especially when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient.

Let’s ask ourselves today: Do I truly listen for the voice of God in my life? Do I allow His Word to challenge me, to change me?
And most importantly: Do I obey it?

When we pray, read Scripture, attend Mass, and participate in the sacraments, we are not just fulfilling religious duties. We are making space in our hearts to hear the living God. And when we say “yes” to what He asks of us—whether in small or large ways—we participate in the very blessedness Jesus describes.

So, today’s Gospel is both a comfort and a challenge. It comforts us by reminding us that we don’t have to be special in the world’s eyes to be blessed. We simply need to open our hearts to God’s Word. And it challenges us to make sure we are not just hearing it with our ears—but living it with our lives.

Key Takeaway:
True blessedness comes not from status, recognition, or even closeness to the holy, but from a heart that listens to God's Word and puts it into practice, just as Mary did.

Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the gift of Your Word, which gives life and truth. Help us to be not only hearers but doers of that Word. Give us the grace to recognize Your voice, the courage to follow it, and the humility to obey, even when it’s hard. Like Mary, may we always say “yes” to You.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.