Blessed Are You

Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Galatians 3:22-29

Brothers and sisters:
Scripture confined all things under the power of sin,
that through faith in Jesus Christ
the promise might be given to those who believe.

Before faith came, we were held in custody under law,
confined for the faith that was to be revealed.
Consequently, the law was our disciplinarian for Christ,
that we might be justified by faith.
But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a disciplinarian.
For through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus.
For all of you who were baptized into Christ
have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek,
there is neither slave nor free person,
there is not male and female;
for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants,
heirs according to the promise.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (8a) The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia Luke 11:28

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are those who hear the word of God
and observe it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Luke 11:27-28

While Jesus 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.”
He replied, “Rather, blessed are those
who hear the word of God and observe it.”

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Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

October 10, 2026 // Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: Luke 11:27-28

Reflect on the Word //

She cuddles into me, nuzzling my breast, relaxing against my stomach, the milk flowing into her little growing body. Awe, surprise, wonder overcome me yet again. Here she is—a baby born nearly eleven years after our last—living, breathing, existing in my arms. I find I am more able to give myself in love to her than I was with my other babies after the long years of seeking God’s will for my life and accepting whatever came my way with trust. I feel blessed to have the womb that carried her and breasts that nurse her.

The woman in the crowd in today’s Gospel was not wrong that Jesus’ mother, Mary, was blessed in bearing her Son in her womb and nourishing Him at her breast (see Luke 11:27). But prior to her bearing Him as a Son, she was already blessed. Mary spent her whole life hearing the word of God and observing it, and that is what first made her blessed (see Luke 11:28; Luke 1:28, 38). She was given the gift of being the Mother of God because she was perfectly aligned to God’s will, united to Him with her whole heart, mind, strength, and soul.

Whether we have borne a child or not, God wants to bless us. He wants to fill us with grace to hear His word and do His will in our lives. As women, we are physically and spiritually oriented to caring for and nourishing the lives of others. That might look like caring for your own children or your ailing parent. It might be offering friendship to a co-worker, talking to that stranger at church, teaching a classroom full of children, or showing patience to a client. God created us to care for each other, to bring His love to each other. When we hear His word and do His will with His love for others in our hearts, we will find that our lives are full of His grace, just like His mother’s.

Relate to the Lord // What is one concrete way we can care for someone in our lives today? Ask for the wisdom to discern the need and provide the care that blesses them.

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About Susanna Spencer

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Susanna Spencer holds a master's in Theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville and is the Devotions Editor for Blessed is She. She is a freelance writer and editor and a teacher. She lives with her philosopher husband, three teen daughters, one pre-teen son, and a miracle baby girl in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She loves reading theology and novels, attending beautiful liturgies, cooking delicious food, and casually following baseball. She is the author of the Gospel Studies including Seek His Kingdom: A Meditation on Matthew , Listen to Him: A Meditation on Mark, Preach in His Name: A Meditation on Luke, and Abide in His Love: A Meditation on John. She was the contributing author and editor for our children’s devotional prayer book, Rise Up. She was the Theological Editor of the Blessed Conversations Studies. Find out more about her here.