Newton Basumatari csc –
Readings: Joel 3: 12-21; Lk 11: 27-28
Saint Anselm says, “She so listened to the word of God that it took flesh within her.” Mary is the model of one who listens, keeps the word, and puts it into practice. The readings of the day invite us to ponder on the word of God and to live what we ponder. For that, we need to make the word of God our guiding principle for life as Mary did in her life. To listen means to pay head, to have an attentive ear, to be quiet.
In today’s gospel, Jesus praises the people who hear the word of God and put it into practice in their day-to-day lives. Today we live in an era of constant distractions, where our attention is pulled in countless directions, making it challenging to truly listen to God. Listening to the word of God can demand sacrifice, commitment, and loyalty.
Mary after listening to the word of God surrendered her will to God. It is for us now to fight against the obstacles in listening to the word of God and living by it. In a noisy world filled with voices clamouring for attention, let us remember that we need to pay an attentive ear to the voice of God, so that we may understand what he speaks to us through various events and people.