his words of wisdom, and, perhaps, piercing the veil of his humanity, and thinking what a blessed thing it must be to be the mother of such a son, exclaimed: "_Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps that gave thee suck,_" [Footnote 89] but He answered immediately: "_Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the Word of God and keep it_." [Footnote 89: St. Luke xi., 27-28.] No one doubts that the Blessed Virgin did hear the Word of God, and keep it. So our Lord's words are as much as to say: 'You praise my mother for being my mother; what I praise her for is her sanctity.' In the same way, when they came to Him on another occasion, when there was a great throng about Him, and said: "_Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, seeking thee_," He answered: "_Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And stretching forth his hand towards his disciples, he said: Behold my mother and my brethren. For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother_." [Footnote 90] [Footnote 90: St. Matt, xii., 48-50.] {209} External advantages, however great, even to be related to the Son of God, are as nothing in his sight, compared to that in which all may have a part--obedience to his Father's will. Perhaps, also, this is the explanation of his language at the marriage of Cana in Galilee. When the wine failed, and his mother came to Him and asked Him to exert his Divine power to supply the want, He said: "_Woman, what hast thou to do with me? My time is not yet come_." [Footnote 91] [Footnote 91: St. John, ii., 4. (Archbishop Kenrick's Translation.)] He does not allow her request on the score of her maternal authority, but what He refuses on this ground He grants to her virtue and holiness, for He immediately proceeds to perform the miracle she had asked for, though, as He said, his time was not yet come. So, too, on the cross He commends the Blessed Virgin to St. John's care, not under the high title of Mother, but the lowly one of Woman. "_Woman, behold thy son._" [Footnote 92] [Footnote 92: St. John xix., 26.]