As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”(Luke 11:27-28 ESV)
This woman obviously had not been present when Jesus' mothers and brothers had come to visit and couldn't get close to Him. But Jesus is not disagreeing with her. The idea of "rather" is "more than." Yes, Mary and her children, and their townfolk in Nazareth, and Israel were all blessed to have the Messiah among them, but real relationship, real love for Christ, is shown by listening to what He says, and then doing it. That's how others, and we ourselves will know we are His followers.
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