Daily Catholic Lectio
Sat, 10 October 2026
XXVII Week in Ordinary Time
Gal 3:22-29; Lk 11:27-28
A New Relationship
“The relationship that goes beyond what the eyes can see is greater than the relationship that is visible to the eyes.”
When the world sees that our life and work are going well, it is natural for people to praise those who gave birth to us and brought us up.
Something like this happens in today’s Gospel.
While Jesus is speaking to the people, a woman cries out: “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you.”
The public ministry of Jesus moved between two responses: rejection and acceptance. His opponents said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul.” But here, a woman praises Him by blessing the mother who gave birth to Him. When the woman said these words, Mary, the mother of Jesus, may have been present with Him. Or perhaps Mary had just arrived there. Or the woman may have said this to draw Jesus’ attention to Mary’s presence. Or perhaps Mary was not there at all and the woman simply spoke spontaneously.
The meaning of her words is simple: “A good tree bears good fruit. You are good fruit. Therefore, your mother and father must also be good trees. Blessed are the trees!”
The woman speaks about the physical relationship, the blood relationship, between Jesus and Mary.
But Jesus takes her words further. He speaks about the spiritual relationship between Himself and Mary: “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”
Jesus leads the woman from a visible relationship to a relationship that goes beyond what the eyes can see.
He speaks about the spiritual bond between Himself and Mary: “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”
Therefore, the reader is given this message: not only Jesus, but Mary too is blessed. Mary is blessed because she said “Yes” to the plan of God.
What lessons does this event give us?
First, when we see something good happening before our eyes, it is good to appreciate the person who has done it. Many times, we become uncomfortable when we see that the person comes from a simple family background. But when appreciation increases, prejudice decreases.
Second, anyone who hears the word of God and puts it into practice can become blessed. A physical relationship with Jesus is not possible for us. But a spiritual relationship with Him is possible.
The way to enter into this spiritual relationship is simple: listen to the word of God and live according to it.
When the woman said these words, Jesus must surely have smiled. Perhaps He was a little embarrassed and said, “Oh, really? It is nothing like that!” That unnamed woman who drew the attention of Jesus and brought a smile to His face was also blessed. There are a thousand ways to draw God’s attention and make Him smile.
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
A Yesni Prays Initiative
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