RonWI:
Jesus could just as well have said: “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it, like my mother.” That is no rebuke at all. It is an explanation, however, of why Mary was blessed.
That is a good point, and true.
Perhaps there is more to this, though. The Jews had already shown an obstinate attachment to claiming blessings based on being children of Abraham without actually imitating Abraham.
Luke 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of penance; and do not begin to say, We have Abraham for our father.
John 8:39 They answered, and said to him: Abraham is our father. Jesus saith to them: If you be the children of Abraham, do the works of Abraham.
So He focused on correcting their errant perspective once again, and was unable to make known the secret of Mary’s blessedness for their lack of faith. After all, if they don’t believe He is the Son of God, what use is it to honor His mother? What use to honor her as they “honor” Abraham and the prophets, whom they did not even listen to?
Was He not also limited at other times by lack of faith?
Mark 6:5 And he could not do any miracles there, only that he cured a few that were sick, laying his hands upon them. 6 And he wondered because of their unbelief, and he went through the villages round about teaching.
And since it redounds upon Himself, perhaps He was also being humble by changing the focus of the praise. And He may very well have been preserving her humility also, confirming her in that virtue while she was still alive.
He did praise John the Baptist, but notice it was when he wasn’t there:
Luke 7:24
And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak to the multitudes concerning John. … 26 But what went you out to see? a prophet? Yea, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written: Behold I send my angel before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee. 28 For I say to you: Amongst those that are born of women, there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist. But he that is the lesser in the kingdom of God, is greater than he. 29 And all the people hearing, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with John’s baptism.
It was also during a time when people were called to go to John.
Nowadays, we are called to go to the Church, and to Mary, in order to find the life that is in Jesus.
At another time, Jesus redirected their attention regarding being the Son of God.
John 10:33 The Jews answered him: For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, maketh thyself God. 34 Jesus answered them: Is it not written in your law: I said you are gods? 35 If he called them gods, to whom to word of God was spoken, and the scripture cannot be broken; 36 Do you say of him whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the world: Thou blasphemest, because I said, I am the Son of God?
DRV Psalms 81:6 I have said: You are gods and all of you the sons of the most High.
He basically defends His assertion by saying we are all gods, all sons of God.
Why does He not come out more boldly about being the Messiah, being God, revealing the Trinity explicitly, explaining the parables to all, etc.?
Luke 8:10 To whom he said: To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to the rest in parables, that seeing they may not see, and hearing may not understand.
Deuteronomy 29:4 And the Lord hath not given you a heart to understand, and eyes to see, and ears that may hear, unto this present day.
It is because they are not ready for it.
You could perhaps make a case that He should have at least revealed it to His disciples. And I say that He did, for the Church has made known that it is part of the divine revelation that we must believe, though that is not explicit in the NT.
hurst
This is not righteous anger but a deep seeded chip on the shoulder that I think you need to deal with my friend. If you hate those who love God it will affect your relationship with Him.
