The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary recognizes the honor that God gives her...
Reflections on the readings for the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15, 2022): 2 Thes 1:1-5,11-12; PS 96:1-2,2-3,4-5; MT 23:13-22
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
He wants us to celebrate her role in His divine plan for our salvation.
Mary of Nazareth, the young Jewish girl who consented to become the mother of our Lord, could not have realized then all that God was asking of her. But she did not have to know because she was willing to turn herself over to Him, body and soul. She could certainly never have known that she herself, in being chosen for this extraordinary role and in preparation for her eventual motherhood, had been conceived without original sin. Mary was obedient to the will of our Eternal Father, just as her Son was. Whatever the difficulties and sufferings she had to endure, it was enough for her that she was doing what God wanted her to do. In the first reading for today we hear members of the Church being reminded of the vital importance of their gift of faith as well as their mission to share it with others as God wills. “We always pray for you, that our God may make you worth of His calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith, that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12). All that Mary did on earth and does now in heaven is through the authority and desire of Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
This memorial venerating the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin is on the octave of the Solemnity of her Assumption. It’s proper that just as Mary’s body was taken along with her soul into heaven, God would further reveal His love and esteem for her by crowning Mary queen. In the words of St. John Paul II: “Christ is King not only because He is the redeemer; Mary is Queen not only because she is the Mother of God, but because, associated as the new Eve with the new Adam, she cooperated in the work of the redemption of the human race. … In looking at the analogy between Christ’s Ascension and Mary’s Assumption, we can conclude that Mary, in dependence on Christ, is the Queen who possesses and exercises over the universe a sovereignty granted to her by her Son.” She shows us the way to Christ. The closer we are to her, the closer we must be to our Redeemer and King.
Suggested missionary action: Let us ask our Blessed Mother, Queen of heaven and earth, to help us serve her Son, our Redeemer and King, today and all the days of our lives. We can ask her care in doing all Christ wants of us.
