Learning is Just the Beginning

Oct. 12: Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

All of Israel’s history, from Abraham (Jacob/Israel’s grandfather) through the Virgin Mary, was part of God’s plan to prepare the world for Jesus.

Reading 1

Gal 3:22-29

Brothers and sisters: Scripture confined all things under the power of sin, that through faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.

Before faith came, we were held in custody under law, confined for the faith that was to be revealed. Consequently, the law was our disciplinarian for Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a disciplinarian.

For through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise.

The Greek word translated here as “disciplinarian,” paidagōgos, isn’t really a concept we have anymore. It was a slave who escorted a child to school but didn’t actually teach or tutor. They were there to keep the children safe, but not teach anything specifically.

That’s what the Mosaic Law was for the Israelites, taking them to the promised land and keeping them safe, for the time until the real teacher arrived—Jesus. Through faith, we can all be children of God and students of Christ.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (8a) The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

This is a hymn of thanks to God for fulfilling his promise to bring the people to Canaan. The last line reminds us that He is not a local god, protecting a small plot of land. He is the Lord of all creation. The Israelites were chosen to be Jesus’ home, but He became man for the whole world.

Alleluia

Lk 11:28

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are those who hear the word of God
and observe it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Listening isn’t enough. We have to do it!

Gospel

Lk 11:27-28

While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.”

He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

Just as we discussed an earlier passage of Luke a few weeks ago, Jesus is not demeaning his mother here. Mary, of course, is the most obedient observer of God’s word. She is the one who said yes to God’s plan without hesitation or alteration. She was honored to carry Jesus because she had perfectly obeyed God throughout her life. Mary is a model for all mothers, of course, but she’s also a model for everyone to hear and observe the word of God.