Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that those who hear the word of God and observe it are blessed. This is reflected in the First Reading. The prophet Joel reminds us that wherever God dwells, there are blessings. He uses rich agricultural imagery to illustrate this; “The mountains shall drip new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk; And the channels of Judah shall flow with water,” (Joel 4:18). In receiving these gifts from God, the Responsorial Psalm responds by rejoicing. We are called to remember that God dwells within us. Therefore, we are to rejoice, be glad with God, and live a life of gratitude in which we see God’s goodness everywhere.
The first reading also reminds me of the current war in Israel and Palestine since the setting of Hebrew Scriptures takes place in that area. I recall Matthew 5:9 in which Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” The blessed land that Joel describes requires peace. The woman who is called blessed, Jesus’ mother Mary, can show us how hearing the word of God and observing it is to live a life of peace. For instance, at the Annunciation, we learn from her that peace starts with prayer. At the Visitation, she shows us that peace also involves helping others starting with those around us as seen when she traveled “in haste” (Luke 1:39) to help her pregnant cousin Elizabeth. In the Magnificat, we see prophetic hope about peace when Mary proclaims that God sides with the lowly and poor. Therefore, as you reflect on today’s readings, also pray for peace around the world especially in Jesus’ homeland, Israel and Palestine. I pray that you may also have peace in your life and within your heart.
-Sr. Emily Sandoval, FMI