Blessed Are Those Who Hear the Word of God and Observe It

Coffee Talkers,

It’s been a while and, whew, news in the Catholic sphere has been a doozy to say the least. I’ve been blessedly busy with my two week old, not to mention the rest of my family, so that’s been at least a bit of a good distraction from the horrific scandals coming to the light of day. Honestly, it’s been too much to even completely process. It’s awful. Brutal. Heart-wrenching and soul-shaking. Bishops around the world, more than 300 named priests, and more than 1,000 known victims... It makes me want to vomit.

Last night, late at night while awake to nurse my baby, I checked my email to stay awake and found the readings for the Vigil of today’s Solemnity of the Assumption. And somehow, in the midst of that sleep-deprived moment, God shed a little bit of light for me.

The Gospel from the Vigil (Luke 11:27-28)

While he was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.”28He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

Naturally, my thoughts turned first to the importance of Mary’s role as mother, as I nursed my own child so newly out of the womb. I reflected on her role not only as the mother of Jesus, but also as mother of the entire Church, so desperately in need of maternal care right now. But Jesus’ words shook me out of my motherly reverie — it’s not Mary’s motherhood that makes her blessed, but rather hearing and observing the word of God. In other words, don’t make excuses for not doing what’s right in the long, hard, uphill road of discipleship — “but I’m not sinless or holy like Mary, Jesus’ own mother!!” — but rather immerse yourself in God's Word and sacraments to find the true source of blessing. 

Also, it made me consider the ways that we hold people in certain honor or esteem due to their title or position, and during this time of scandal many of us are realizing at a whole new level that we can’t consider people holy or blessed just based upon title or status in the Church alone. We’ve been shaken to the core to find out the level to which some of the very men who’ve pledged themselves to a life of poverty, chastity, and obedience in imitation of our Lord have actually been using money and depraved sexual acts as they’ve risen to power in the very Church we’ve considered Mother and guide.

I know there are lots of people thoroughly scandalized right now by what’s going on, and all I can say is that we should be scandalized. There are lots of people who are considering leaving the Church and many more who are already gone. I can’t say that I blame you, but rather that (while I’m not personally leaving) I can truly empathize. Where can you go, who can you trust, when many of the Shepherds themselves have shown themselves to actually be predatory enemies of all that is good, true, and beautiful? 

Some of you know I used to work for the Church but am now just busy as wife, mom, and music teacher. I don’t have any inside connections or knowledge, and in fact have resumed the role of the typical Catholic in the pew who doesn’t even know who my Bishop is muchless if I can trust him — too busy trying to wrangle my kids at Mass while we make our way up the communion line. So I feel as lost and as hurt and as betrayed as everyone else.

However, in the middle of the night, God spoke to me through the Scriptures and said that I can find blessing by hearing his Word and observing it. We all can. We can each grapple with the reality of our own sinfulness, bathe in God’s limitless mercy, and consider the graces He offers us, even through the huge mess in which we find ourselves. We can do penance for our own sins, and for me that’s enough to focus on for right now. 

Please be assured that I’ll be praying for all of you as we journey through this trying and terrible time. There are still mercy and grace to be found; let’s pray for one another to find them.

Peace and all good,
Leslie