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." He replied, "Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it." (Luke 11: 27-28)
This brief incident is the highest contrast to yesterday’s passage. It is the contrast between malice and enthusiasm. Malice is a kind of ‘evil spirit’ takes possession of a person. Enthusiasm, too, is a kind of possession: the word comes from “theos”, “god”, to be enthusiastic is to be possessed by some kind of god. An enthusiastic Christian is possessed by God – indeed, by the Holy Spirit. That inner area of the soul is not offered to any but the Holy Spirit. “Blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it,” he said. Blessed are they in whom the word of God has become a permanent possession.
