T
tritcher1988
Guest
Please help me to understand these Bible verses:
[BIBLEDRB]Luke 11:27-28[/BIBLEDRB]
[BIBLEDRB]Luke 11:27-28[/BIBLEDRB]
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A
adrift
Guest
Notes from the New American Bible
8 [27-28] The beatitude in ⇒ Luke 11:28 should not be interpreted as a rebuke of the mother of Jesus; see the note on ⇒ Luke 8:21. Rather, it emphasizes (like ⇒ Luke 2:35) that attentiveness to God’s word is more important than biological relationship to Jesus.
7 [21] The family of Jesus is not constituted by physical relationship with him but by obedience to the word of God. In this, Luke agrees with the Marcan parallel (⇒ Mark 3:31-35), although by omitting ⇒ Mark 3:33 and especially ⇒ Mark 3:20-21 Luke has softened the Marcan picture of Jesus’ natural family. Probably he did this because Mary has already been presented in ⇒ Luke 1:38 as the obedient handmaid of the Lord who fulfills the requirement for belonging to the eschatological family of Jesus; cf also ⇒ Luke 11:27-28.
P
poptown
Guest
Yes! Bible is a very tricky book. If you read the Bible in a fundamentalistic way, you will probably end up being totally dismayed by “contradictions”.
M
mt77061
Guest
I was raised Protestant, but converted to Catholicism about age 20. I am age 35 now. I remember reading a prayer card to Our Lady of Maryknoll, that began along these lines, “Mother of all souls in every nation and Mother of their only Saviour…” I lost the prayer card, but didn’t understand the sentiment. As one raised Protestant, I couldn’t imagine how the Holy Virgin Mary could be the “Mother of all souls…”
No, in the Gospel recount in these verses, the woman wasn’t trying to make some sort of “final doctrinal opinion” that all men were to live by. She seems to be expressing how fortunate it would be to have been the mother by whom Jesus came into the world.
And I do not think that Jesus, nor the one who recorded this exchange, was trying to make a “final doctrinal opinion” that the Mother of Jesus was “un-blessed.”
Being the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, remember, Jesus Christ knew not only that this would this exchange be written into the Gospels, but that it would also come down through the ages to us today. The Holy Virgin Mary was not blessed because of any particular anatomical feature (other than being a fully natural woman), but because she had been chosen by God to be His Mother, and that the Virgin Mary remained in Christian Faith. We know from the dogmas of the Church, the Scriptures themselves, and the writings through the ages about many things of the Virgin Mary, such as the Immaculate Conception.
And we know, too, that the Virgin Mary, was blessed as one who heard the word of God, and kept it.
The Virgin Mary became the “Mother of souls in every nation…” because of another exchange in the Gospels, Christ, nearing His death on the Cross: “Then saith [Jesus] to the disciple, ‘Behold thy mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.” (St. John 19:27). It is commonly accepted that when a man is dying, the things that he says are those most important to him, so we can assume the same of Christ Jesus.
No, in the Gospel recount in these verses, the woman wasn’t trying to make some sort of “final doctrinal opinion” that all men were to live by. She seems to be expressing how fortunate it would be to have been the mother by whom Jesus came into the world.
And I do not think that Jesus, nor the one who recorded this exchange, was trying to make a “final doctrinal opinion” that the Mother of Jesus was “un-blessed.”
Being the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, remember, Jesus Christ knew not only that this would this exchange be written into the Gospels, but that it would also come down through the ages to us today. The Holy Virgin Mary was not blessed because of any particular anatomical feature (other than being a fully natural woman), but because she had been chosen by God to be His Mother, and that the Virgin Mary remained in Christian Faith. We know from the dogmas of the Church, the Scriptures themselves, and the writings through the ages about many things of the Virgin Mary, such as the Immaculate Conception.
And we know, too, that the Virgin Mary, was blessed as one who heard the word of God, and kept it.
The Virgin Mary became the “Mother of souls in every nation…” because of another exchange in the Gospels, Christ, nearing His death on the Cross: “Then saith [Jesus] to the disciple, ‘Behold thy mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.” (St. John 19:27). It is commonly accepted that when a man is dying, the things that he says are those most important to him, so we can assume the same of Christ Jesus.
A
A_G
Guest
This is saying that Mary’s total obedience to God is more important than the biological relationship to Jesus. Not only was she the one who gave birth and nursed Christ, but more importantly she was also His number one disciple.Please help me to understand these Bible verses:
[BIBLEDRB]Luke 11:27-28[/BIBLEDRB]
When we say “Yes” to God in our life, we are imitating Mary.
B
brumano
Guest
A beautiful beautiful passage and loaded with doctrine, it’s just mind boggling… even then people could appreciate and speak the praises of Mary but what our Lord says tells us that His Mother was not just blessed in her body, but her whole person was holy and advice is given to be like her by hearing the word of God and doing it, and that as He gives it is the perfect definition of His Mother.Please help me to understand these Bible verses:
[BIBLEDRB]Luke 11:27-28[/BIBLEDRB]
C
COPLAND_3
Guest
Here is the commentary from the great Cornelius a Lapide
**Ver. 27.—**And it came to pass as He spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, &c., i.e. Thou art so holy and so blessed, 0 Christ, that because of thee thy mother must be also blessed. Although she was ignorant of the mystery, this woman was moved by the Holy Spirit to declare that Christ was born of a virgin mother. Some suppose that the woman here mentioned was S. Martha or her handmaid S. Marcella. However, had it been Martha, in all probability S. Luke would have said so, since he so frequently in the chapter preceding, makes mention of her name.
But Marcella is said to have incurred the enmity of the Scribes because she thus openly spoke in praise of Christ, and to have been by them condemned to death a little after the crucifixion, and there is a tradition that, together with Martha, Mary Magdalene, and Lazarus, she was exposed in an open boat without sails or oars, but that it with its living freight was by the providence of God brought safe to shore at Marseilles.
Blessed is the womb that bare thee.
For it was the abiding place of the Son of God. Hence Methodius says of the Blessed Virgin: “Thou didst conceive Him who comprehended all things. Thou didst bear Him in thy womb by whose word all things are sustained. For she is the chariot of the true Solomon, of whom it is written, ‘King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon. He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love.’” Cant. iii.’9.
Hence Gregory of Nicomedia calls her “the glorious throne and royal chariot on which the Incarnate Word was carried when He visited the earth. And S. Bernard says, Ignatius, in the many letters which he wrote to the Blessed Virgin, addresses her as “Christofera,” which is indeed a noble title conveying with it infinite honour; for to be the servant of Christ is to be a ruler and prince, and to bear Him is to be ennobled, not burdened. And the same writer, commenting on Rev. xii., goes on to say, “How great favour hast thou found in the sight of God, how very nigh hast thou been brought to Him! He abides in thee, and thou in Him. Thou didst provide Him a garment, and in turn thou are clothed upon by Him. He received of thee the garment of the flesh; He clothed thee with the glory of His majesty. Thou didst clothe the sun with a cloudy covering, and thou thyself art encircled with its splendours.”
Rightly therefore may we sing of the mother of our Lord: “Thou art the exaltation of Jerusalem. Thou art the great glory of Israel. Blessed be thou of the Almighty Lord for evermore,” Judith xv. 9.
Hear also the testimony of the fathers. Gregory Nazianzen, in his tragedy, “The Suffering Christ” writes:—“0 queen, 0 mistress and blessinag of the human race! be ever propitious to us mortal men: and be my safeguard wherever I may dwell.” And S. Cyril (Contra Nestorium) says, “All praise to thee, holy mother of God, for thou art this world’s pearl, an evershining light, the crown of virgins, and the sceptre of the faith;” and S. Chrysostom: “Hail, mother, the throne, the grace, the glory and the support of our Holy Church!” And again, S. Ephrem salutes her as “the hope of the Fathers, the glory of the Prophets, the praise of the Apostles, the honour of the Martyrs, the joy of the Saints, and the light of the Patriarchs of old.”
**Ver. 28.—**But He said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear one word of God, and keep it. Christ does not say that His mother is not blessed, as Calvin would have us believe, but only that they are more blessed who hear the word of God and keep it, i.e. fulfil its precepts. Because to be the mother of God is a grace and free gift of God, but external, and therefore not of necessity acting upon the soul, but to hear and keep the word is an internal grace, finding acceptance in the sight of God. Again, to be the mother of God does not absolutely ensure everlasting happiness, but to keep God’s word up to death has the sure promise of eternal life. And further, to be the mother of God is, of necessity, the blessing of one virgin only, but to hear and keep the word of God, a privilege common to all believers.
Christ therefore would encourage the woman who had addressed Him. Thou callest My mother blessed, and sorrowest that so great a privilege has not fallen to thy lot, but I offer thee a better and more lasting blessing, if thou wilt hear My word, and keep My commandments. For My mother was blessed more because she acknowledged My divinity than because she conceived Me in her womb, nay more, because, had she not recognised the purpose of God and been obedient unto His word, she would have been accounted unworthy to have become the mother of His Son; and so S, Augustine says, “The near relationship of mother would not have profited Mary had she not conceived Christ in her heart as well as in her womb. For she was more blessed in her faith than in her conception.”
**Ver. 27.—**And it came to pass as He spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, &c., i.e. Thou art so holy and so blessed, 0 Christ, that because of thee thy mother must be also blessed. Although she was ignorant of the mystery, this woman was moved by the Holy Spirit to declare that Christ was born of a virgin mother. Some suppose that the woman here mentioned was S. Martha or her handmaid S. Marcella. However, had it been Martha, in all probability S. Luke would have said so, since he so frequently in the chapter preceding, makes mention of her name.
But Marcella is said to have incurred the enmity of the Scribes because she thus openly spoke in praise of Christ, and to have been by them condemned to death a little after the crucifixion, and there is a tradition that, together with Martha, Mary Magdalene, and Lazarus, she was exposed in an open boat without sails or oars, but that it with its living freight was by the providence of God brought safe to shore at Marseilles.
Blessed is the womb that bare thee.
For it was the abiding place of the Son of God. Hence Methodius says of the Blessed Virgin: “Thou didst conceive Him who comprehended all things. Thou didst bear Him in thy womb by whose word all things are sustained. For she is the chariot of the true Solomon, of whom it is written, ‘King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon. He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love.’” Cant. iii.’9.
Hence Gregory of Nicomedia calls her “the glorious throne and royal chariot on which the Incarnate Word was carried when He visited the earth. And S. Bernard says, Ignatius, in the many letters which he wrote to the Blessed Virgin, addresses her as “Christofera,” which is indeed a noble title conveying with it infinite honour; for to be the servant of Christ is to be a ruler and prince, and to bear Him is to be ennobled, not burdened. And the same writer, commenting on Rev. xii., goes on to say, “How great favour hast thou found in the sight of God, how very nigh hast thou been brought to Him! He abides in thee, and thou in Him. Thou didst provide Him a garment, and in turn thou are clothed upon by Him. He received of thee the garment of the flesh; He clothed thee with the glory of His majesty. Thou didst clothe the sun with a cloudy covering, and thou thyself art encircled with its splendours.”
Rightly therefore may we sing of the mother of our Lord: “Thou art the exaltation of Jerusalem. Thou art the great glory of Israel. Blessed be thou of the Almighty Lord for evermore,” Judith xv. 9.
Hear also the testimony of the fathers. Gregory Nazianzen, in his tragedy, “The Suffering Christ” writes:—“0 queen, 0 mistress and blessinag of the human race! be ever propitious to us mortal men: and be my safeguard wherever I may dwell.” And S. Cyril (Contra Nestorium) says, “All praise to thee, holy mother of God, for thou art this world’s pearl, an evershining light, the crown of virgins, and the sceptre of the faith;” and S. Chrysostom: “Hail, mother, the throne, the grace, the glory and the support of our Holy Church!” And again, S. Ephrem salutes her as “the hope of the Fathers, the glory of the Prophets, the praise of the Apostles, the honour of the Martyrs, the joy of the Saints, and the light of the Patriarchs of old.”
**Ver. 28.—**But He said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear one word of God, and keep it. Christ does not say that His mother is not blessed, as Calvin would have us believe, but only that they are more blessed who hear the word of God and keep it, i.e. fulfil its precepts. Because to be the mother of God is a grace and free gift of God, but external, and therefore not of necessity acting upon the soul, but to hear and keep the word is an internal grace, finding acceptance in the sight of God. Again, to be the mother of God does not absolutely ensure everlasting happiness, but to keep God’s word up to death has the sure promise of eternal life. And further, to be the mother of God is, of necessity, the blessing of one virgin only, but to hear and keep the word of God, a privilege common to all believers.
Christ therefore would encourage the woman who had addressed Him. Thou callest My mother blessed, and sorrowest that so great a privilege has not fallen to thy lot, but I offer thee a better and more lasting blessing, if thou wilt hear My word, and keep My commandments. For My mother was blessed more because she acknowledged My divinity than because she conceived Me in her womb, nay more, because, had she not recognised the purpose of God and been obedient unto His word, she would have been accounted unworthy to have become the mother of His Son; and so S, Augustine says, “The near relationship of mother would not have profited Mary had she not conceived Christ in her heart as well as in her womb. For she was more blessed in her faith than in her conception.”
R
runningdude
Guest
shivers in awe…
The Virgin Mary became the “Mother of souls in every nation…” because of another exchange in the Gospels, Christ, nearing His death on the Cross: “Then saith [Jesus] to the disciple, ‘Behold thy mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.” (St. John 19:27). ** It is commonly accepted that when a man is dying, the things that he says are those most important to him, so we can assume the same of Christ Jesus.**
J
jim1130
Guest
Contrary to what an evangelical or fundamentalist may lead you to believe (or a staunch anti-Catholic), these verses further elevate Mary because Jesus steers the compliment to show Mary’s 100 % obedience to God. In no way, shape or form is Christ’s comment a dismissal of Mary. Rather, Jesus is giving Mary praise for her unquestioning willingness to obey God. And in doing so Jesus is asking us to be as obedient as Mary.Please help me to understand these Bible verses:
[BIBLEDRB]Luke 11:27-28[/BIBLEDRB]
Does this make sense?
M
mcrow
Guest
IMO, this passage clearly elevates Mary far above a simple vessel to birth Jesus. The woman comments on the physical part Mary had in raising Jesus but Jesus quickly notes that it is much more important that she heard the word and followed it. It highlights Mary’s perfect example of faith, an example for all of us.
B
brumano
Guest
Makes perfect sense, even as you’re reading it that sense comes through, whereas if someone wants to draw a different meaning they have to rattle their brain into negativivity to suit their own beliefs or disbeliefs as the case may be, alot of times just to protect their own pride.Contrary to what an evangelical or fundamentalist may lead you to believe (or a staunch anti-Catholic), these verses further elevate Mary because Jesus steers the compliment to show Mary’s 100 % obedience to God. In no way, shape or form is Christ’s comment a dismissal of Mary. Rather, Jesus is giving Mary praise for her unquestioning willingness to obey God. And in doing so Jesus is asking us to be as obedient as Mary.
Does this make sense?
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