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.”
It is no secret that I am a huge fan of the series “The Chosen”. It is not perfect. It is at times not even Biblical. It has had at least one occasion where I believe it altered a biblical story. When Jesus tells Peter he will inherit the keys to the Kingdom, in this scene from the Chosen Jesus backs up as if to make this proclamation to all the disciples. As if they all inherited leadership of the Church. And therefore undermines Peter as being the first Pope. But the vast majority of the time the series gives a vision and a bit of humanity to the lives of Jesus and His apostles.
In Season 5, the latest season, it is the development of the character of Judas that stands out most for me. When reading Judas’ story in Scripture you get a bit of a one-dimensional view of his personality and motivation in betraying Jesus. Since I was young, and learned of the Judas story, I merely thought of him as evil. A bad guy. But The Chosen gives a bit more nuance. Adds some gray to the black and white teaching we get. Here is the scene, in my view, that best demonstrates Judas making the final decision to go down the wrong path:
The essence of this scene is that Judas sees himself as an advisor to Christ in His ministry. That he is an associate and expects Jesus to collaborate with him in order to enact eventual overthrow of the Romans and return the Jews to their rightful place in Jerusalem. It is a physical connection between him and Jesus that he most values. But what does Jesus ask of him? He asks for Judas’ heart. To trust Him in what He does and is about to do. He does not need Judas’ advice. Just his obedience and faith.
We hear in the Gospel today the passage that I pasted at the beginning of the reflection. It is a woman calling out to Jesus. Bless be the womb that carried Jesus and the breasts that he suckled from. She is giving credit to Mary for bringing Jesus into the world and providing for His care so that He could reach this moment. For caring for Jesus’ physical needs. But that is not the key. Not even for Mary. Most blessed Mary. Because if Mary did all this. Bringing the Savior of the world into the world, and raising Him, that would not have been enough to save her. Think about that. The Mother of God would not have been saved if all she did was to bear, raise and to know her Son. As it was for Judas. To have a physical connection with Jesus would not be sufficient.
Mary and Judas, and all who claim to follow Christ, would need a SPIRITUAL connection with Jesus and His Father. What does that mean? I think it means to spend our lives trying to become like Christ. Loving each other (working for the other at the expense of ourselves), not hating your enemy, to forgive each other, to spend time in adoration, have faith that we are receiving His body and blood in the Eucharist, not acting on our own desires. Spending time to listen to what Jesus wants for our lives, following His commandments.
I have spoken before about the danger of having only an intellectual relationship with Christ. Focusing on theology, scriptural interpretation, or historical accounts of Jesus. While those with PhDs in Theology would disagree, I would contend that this type of relationship with the Lord is superficial. Physical. The equivalent of Mary’s womb and breasts. Now there is an image I bet you were not expecting!!
Mary in fact was a disciple of her Son. Not just His Mother. So when the woman in the crowd said she is blessed for raising Him, Jesus was not disrespecting Mary by raising the bar. Because He knew she was more, much more, than His Mother. When He asked for her heart as well as those other bodily organs mentioned, she, unlike Judas, gave it willingly and completely. Can we do the same?
