Gospel: Luke 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, “Truly blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it as well.”

Reflections
“Truly blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it as well.”
Khalil Gibran says to parents, “You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.” In other words there is a close link between parents and children. What we see in children (arrows) mirrors where they came from (bows) and under what manner of upbringing, whether disciplined or lax, they were formed. Hence, when children have grown to become successful and to become some- body in society, thanks to pa- rents. This must have been in the mind of the woman who praised the one who “gave… birth and nursed” Jesus, meaning his mother, Mary. Jesus must have impressed her a lot and admired his mother as blessed for having produced a good son. I don’t see anything wrong in this judgment. It is also a dictate of justice to recognize good parents and thank them for rearing and nurturing their children to become good people. Good personality reflects good upbringing. Good children reflect good parents. But Jesus picked this up and taught a more insightful lesson: one is more blessed when doing what is good and producing what is good comes from hearing and observing God’s Word.

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