In the Gospel, a woman praises Jesus by praising His mother: “Blessed is the womb that carried you.”
But Jesus answers, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”
Jesus is not putting Mary down. In fact, Mary is the best example of what Jesus means. Mary was blessed not only because she carried Jesus in her womb, but because she listened to God and lived His Word.
And perhaps this is where the Gospel challenges us today.
We hear the Word of God often. We attend Mass. We listen to homilies. We pray the Rosary. We read religious posts. But the important question is:
Does the Word of God change the way we live?
We hear, “Forgive”—but do we forgive?
We hear, “Love your neighbor”—but how do we treat difficult people?
We hear, “Do not lie”—but are we truthful even when lying is convenient?
We hear, “Care for the poor”—but do we notice the person beside us who needs help?
Brothers and sisters, Christianity is not simply something we hear. It is something we live. The world does not need more Christians who only know the Word of God. The world needs Christians who practice it.
So today, let us ask ourselves one challenging question: What Word of God have I heard many times but still refuse to live?
Perhaps that is precisely where God is asking us to begin.
Lord, give us ears to hear Your Word, hearts to receive it, and courage to live it.