What does the Bible say about listening to God's word?

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

 

 Blessed Virgin Mary St. John XXIII, pope

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Joel 4:12-21

 Rise up,

O people, and come to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, nations.

 Bring a sickle for the harvest is ripe; come and tread, for the wine press is full, and the vats overflow; so great is their wickedness!

 

Multitudes and more multitudes in the Valley of Verdict! The day of the Lord is near in the Valley of Verdict!

The sun and the moon become dark, the stars lose their radiance.

The Lord roars from Zion and raises his voice from Jerusalem; heaven and earth are shaken.

Indeed, the Lord is a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the Israelites.

You will know that I am the Lord, your God, dwelling on Zion, my holy mountain.

Jerusalem will be a holy place; and foreigners will never pass through there again.

 

On that day, the mountains shall drip wine and the hills flow with milk;

all the streams of Judah will run with water;

and a fountain will spring from the house of the Lord, and water the valley of Shittim.

 

On the other hand, Egypt will be devastated; and Edom will become a deserted wasteland,

because they committed violence against Judah, and shed innocent blood in their country.

But Judah will be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem through all generations.

 

And I shall avenge their blood and not leave it unpunished, for the Lord dwells in Zion.

 

Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12

Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Luke 11:27-28

A s Jesus was speaking, a woman spoke from the crowd and said to him,

"Blessed is the one who gave you birth and nursed you!" Jesus replied,

"Truly blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it as well."

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"To listen to God's word in Holy Scripture."

In what way is Mary blessed? In the Gospel the woman in the crowd gives praise to the one who gave birth to Christ and nursed, him.

And so, Mary is blessed for having bore the Son of God, our Saviour. She is blessed for being Mother of God, Mother of the Word Incarnate.

However, that motherhood is prepared by God and freely accepted by Mary.

And so, her "yes" to God in consenting to God's will that she be the mother of our Saviour is prepared by God's grace and

by Mary's constant listening to God's word and reflection on it. "Truly blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it."

 

Jesus, in his reply to the woman in the crowd expands the blessing.

Mary is blessed for listening to God's word and by accepting that it would shape her life.

Jesus is saying that all who do the same are blessed.

Thus, we are encouraged to follow Mary's example, to listen to God's word in Holy Scripture,

to ponder his words in prayer, to meditate on God's action in our daily lives,

and to consent to his will. Thus, we shall live blessed lives.