Tess Koning, a member of our Parish Pastoral Council and Principal of St Peter’s Primary school reads from the Gospel of Luke (11: 27-28) in which a woman in the crowd praises Jesus and he replies saying, ‘More blessed still are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’ Following on from yesterday’s Gospel, Tess says, these small verses give the sure foundation for keeping evil away; that is, listening to God’s word and acting on it. Jesus was not saying anything negative about his mother, when praise was given by the woman who spoke to him. Rather, he pointed out a deeper faith-relationship that was beyond the physical relationship of a mother with her child. Mary was both a mother and devout listener of the Word. Today, Tess invites us to pray with her to Mary so that we, too, may be blessed in hearing the word of God and keeping it. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen