The Dedication of the Basilica of St Mary Major

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season:  Eighteenth Week :  Tuesday*

*Gospel : Lk 11:27-28*

*First Reading : Rev 21:1-5a*

*Responsorial Psalm : Jdt 13:18, 19, 20*

*The Dedication of the Basilica of St Mary Major*

*Bearing and Nursing” and “Hearing and Obeying”*

*1) Bearing and Nursing: Physical Relationship*

The woman from the crowd praises the biological motherhood of Mary — honoring the visible, tangible act of motherhood: carrying Jesus in the womb and nursing Him.

In Jewish culture, a mother's honor was seen as flowing from the greatness of her child. 

Jesus was being praised, and Mary, as His mother, was receiving reflected glory.

But Jesus gently shifts the focus to what God values more: not the fleshly connection, but the spiritual response.

*2) Hearing and Obeying: Spiritual Relationship*

Jesus affirms that true blessedness doesn’t lie in simply being close to Him in the flesh — but in living in union with God’s will.

*“Hearing and obeying”* implies:

Receptivity - like Mary at the Annunciation

Trust - like Joseph in his dreams 

Action - like the disciples who left all to follow Jesus

This is the essence of faith: not passive listening, but active response.

*3) Mary Embodied Both*

Mary didn’t just bear and nurse Jesus — she also heard and obeyed the Word of God with her whole heart.

*“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word.”* (Luke 1:38)

She is the only person in Scripture who did both perfectly — she physically gave birth to Christ and spiritually lived out God’s will every step of the way.

Her biological motherhood was matched by her discipleship.

*4) Discipleship is Open to All*

While bearing and nursing Jesus was unique to Mary, hearing and obeying the Word is open to every person.

Jesus expands the definition of family — now, those who do God’s will are His mother, brothers, and sisters (cf. Mark 3:35).

You may not carry Christ physically, but you can carry Him in your heart and give Him to the world through your obedience.

*5) Fruitfulness in the Kingdom*

Bearing and nursing are images of natural fruitfulness.

Hearing and obeying are signs of spiritual fruitfulness.

The Gospel invites us to be spiritually fruitful — to nurture the Word like Mary did, and to bring Christ to birth in the world through our lives.

As St. Ambrose said: *“Every soul that believes conceives and gives birth to the Word of God.”*

*6) Mary's Logic*

Mary First Heard the Word 

Mary then Obeyed the Word 

Mary then Bore the Word 

Mary then Nursed the Word 

A Perfect Logic 

Jesus also highlights this logic in the Scriptures 

Jesus also gives us this logic to our life. 

Am I ready to accept? 

*Final Thought* : True Christian greatness is not in how close we are to Jesus by blood, name, or tradition — but in how closely we listen to God’s voice and follow His will.

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*