This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.
Today is the memorial of the Queenship of Mary–important enough for 1/15 of the entire cycle of the rosary to be dedicated to it.
Still, the readings of the day default to Saturday of the 20th week in ordinary time, which as such will be the subject of these reflections.
What is striking is how gloriously the ordinary readings of the day, by apparent utter coincidence, reflect the splendor of Mary’s Queenship–and the secret of her regal stature.
The first reading is all about the glory of God entering into the temple. Mary, who carried Jesus in her womb for nine months, is the Temple of God par excellence. Indeed, bringing to fulfillment the role of the Jewish temple described in the first reading, we can hear God the Father speaking to His Son of Mary’s heart: “Son of man, this is where my throne shall be, this is where I will set the soles of my feet; here I will dwell among the children of Israel forever.”
The Gospel seems to have little to do with Our Lady, much less her Queenship, as it starts by pointing out how the Pharisees do everything for show and for superficial honors. But then we hear Christ describe how we must be, in contrast to this attitude: “The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Mary echoes these sentiments in reference to her own treatment by God, almost verbatim, in the Magnificat: “He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.” (Lk. 1:52)
Truly, the glory of the Lord entered triumphantly into Mary at the Annunciation, and she was the maiden most highly exalted, most highly lifted up, due to her humility, her lowliness.
Would we like to have a glorious crown in Heaven, like Our Lady? Would we like to have the power that she has in Heaven to intervene for the conversion and the eternal salvation of souls? What is the secret? After all, she didn’t “do much!” What is the difference between Mary and me?
The answer is almost literally painfully simple. That it is hard takes nothing away from its simplicity. The glory of the Lord is pressing to enter and flood your heart, your life, as it did Mary’s. All that is required is your authentic daily “yes,” like Mary’s at the Annunciation; a “yes” articulated clearly and simply to God in your time of prayer, a”yes” given to the Holy Spirit as you seek to heed Him during the day, a “yes” offered in full awareness of the lowliness of your being in His sight. It is this “yes” that brings the glory of the Lord to enter in, and causes God to say, “This is where my throne shall be.”
And ultimately, it is that glory, the glory of the Lord Himself, that constitutes Mary’s heavenly crown.
Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Consider and examine your “yes” to God. Consider its imperfections. Reassert to Him how deeply and truly you wish to make your “yes” purer, more constant, more consistent, so that He can do for others through you what He did for us through Mary.
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