Evenings with Bede: S3, Ep. 4: On Mary's Blessedness

A Lesson from the Gospel according to S. Luke 10.38Now as Jesus and the disciples went on their way, he entered a village; and a woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.” Then Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” A Lesson from his commentary on S. Luke by the Ven. S. BedeOur Lord Jesus pronounced blessed not only the mother who was worthy to bring Him forth physically, but also all those who kept His commands. For when He was teaching the people in a certain place and working miracles, and everyone was marvelling at His wisdom and virtues, “a certain woman raised her voice and said to him, “’Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!’” But willingly receiving this testimony to the truth that she had brought forth, He immediately answered, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” so that the woman herself and everybody who was listening might trust that they also would be blessed if they were willing to comply with the divine mandates. It is as if He were clearly saying, “Mary has a singular privilege of blessedness since she, a virgin, was worthy to harbor the incarnate Son of God in her womb, to give birth to Him and to nurture Him. Nevertheless those who conceive His faith and love in a chaste heart, who bear the recollection of His precepts in a sincere mind, and who busy themselves nourishing this recollection also in the mind of their neighbors with skillful exhortation, they too will have a place in the same everlasting life of blessedness. . . . Now also as very good and most beneficial custom has developed in Holy Church, of her hymn being chanted daily by everyone along with the psalmody of the evening office, so that in this way a very frequent reminder of the Lord’s incarnation may enkindle the minds of the faithful to a feeling of devotion, and by reflecting very often on the example of His Mother, they may be confirmed in the stability of virtues. And it is pleasingly appropriate that this occurs at Evensong, so that our mind, which has been tired out in the course of the day and stretched in different directions by diverse thoughts, may, as we settle into a time of quiet, pull itself together in its reflection.If you find this edifying, please consider (if you haven’t already) becoming a paid subscriber. Your support goes directly to supporting the ministry of Akenside Institute for English Spirituality, a project I started 12 years ago to help to rebuild the Anglican tradition. Get full access to Anglican Ascetic Podcast at frmcdallman.substack.com/subscribe