Who Has Access?

Gospel: Luke 11: 27-28

In ancient times those who were thought to be blessed by heaven were few and rare: people with revelations from God, those who could do great deeds, strong heroes.  Even the woman who shouts out that blessed is the Mother of Jesus restricts God's blessing to someone who has that singular privilege.  No one else can be the physical mother of Jesus as Mary was.  Blessings in this understanding are restricted for the few.

However, Jesus overturns that thinking and makes the blessings of God accessible to all.  For everyone has the ability to hear the word of God and keep it.  Now, the blessings of God are possible within all of us.  What is more, we too can be like the Mother of Jesus - bearing him within us and bringing him forth into the world by deeds of mercy and loving kindness.  What else is the will of God but to do such things? 

 So today and everyday we have this opportunity to be a bearer of God in the world, to be a blessing to others by bringing forth deeds of mercy and love to the world in the same way Jesus had done so, in the way that Mary had done.  The blessings of God are not for the few and privileged; they are open to all people in every place and time.