Following Mary’s Example by Pondering God’s Word in Our Hearts – Jun 04 – Homily – Fr Josemaria

Fr. Josemaria Barbin gives the homily on Jun 04, 2026, explaining how Jesus' addition of "mind" to the greatest commandment calls us to practice mental prayer, allowing us to internalize both the eternal truths of God's word and His personal message to us, just as Mary did.

In his homily, Father Josemaria Barbin reflects on the greatest commandment, noting how Jesus expands the traditional Shema from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 by commanding us to love God with all our "mind." To fulfill this, we must engage in mental prayer and meditation, a practice St. Teresa of Avila described as a matter of life or death for Christians. Father Barbin distinguishes between two aspects of God's word: logos, the unchanging, eternal truths of faith, and rhema, the personal, living word spoken directly to an individual. Mental prayer bridges both. As we meditate, the logos deepens our intellectual convictions, making the truths of faith more evident (CCC 2706). Simultaneously, we receive the rhema, allowing God to speak personally to our hearts and bestow the specific graces we need. The ultimate model for this prayer is the Blessed Virgin Mary, who constantly pondered the Word in her heart. By imitating her contemplative spirit, we can receive both the logos and rhema of God, responding with her same faith: "Be it done unto me according to your word."

– Meditation mobilizes faculties to deepen faith and follow Christ – https://airmaria.com/go/eGxXaD
XVI – Meditation reflects on God's Word to convert heart and will – https://airmaria.com/go/HZRPph
– Love God fully with heart, soul, and all strength – https://airmaria.com/go/Dzmiq5
Pope Francis 2021 – Many meditation methods help if they aid Christian prayer – https://airmaria.com/go/M6ZbVv
Pope Benedict XVI 2008 – Divine law is summarized in love for God and neighbor – https://airmaria.com/go/J53Mar

Deuteronomy 6:5 – Loving God with all our heart and strength – https://airmaria.com/go/T7khbt
Mark 12:30 – Loving God with all our mind and soul – https://airmaria.com/go/yG2Tqm
Luke 2:19 – Mary pondering God's word in her heart – https://airmaria.com/go/FuxRJG
CCC 2707 – Meditation deepens our convictions of faith – https://airmaria.com/go/NtHidP
CCC 2708 – Meditation leads to union with Jesus Christ – https://airmaria.com/go/UNadWJ

00:00 - The Shema: Loving God with All Your Heart
01:10 - Jesus' Addition: Loving with All Your Mind
01:51 - Mental Prayer: A Matter of Life or Death
02:34 - Understanding Logos and Rhema
03:19 - Hearing God's Personal Word to Us
04:07 - Pondering the Word with Our Lady

Ave Maria!
Mass: Thursday 9th Week of Ordinary Time - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/060426.cfm
1st: 2 Timothy 2:8-15 - Endure Suffering Faithfully
Resp: Psalms 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14 - Prayer for Guidance and Protection
Gsp: Mark 12:28-34 - Greatest Commandment

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1616

Also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDvtRNSIVA4