Daily Gospel Reflection
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August 22, 2020
Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach.
“They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi.
“But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah.
“The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.”
The last lines of this gospel reading resonate profoundly with today’s feast: the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Jesus tells us: “The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Who exemplifies this better than Mary? In the Magnificat, she refers to her “lowliness” as “handmaid” of the Lord, and extolls the great things that the Mighty One has done for her. She reminds us that God has “cast down the mighty from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.” (Lk 1:46-52)
Mary’s Queenship that we celebrate today is not the reversal of her humility in life, but rather its fitting extension. Even as the Queen of Heaven, she does not glorify herself but points us to the mercy and glory of her son. Even as she reigns in her celestial home, she still hears our daily prayers and intercedes for us. She not only continues to serve God, she continues to serve us!
Today we remember that the humble will be exalted and those who exalt themselves will be humbled. So many aspects of our lives tempt us to exalt ourselves instead of lifting up our brothers and sisters. Mary reminds us that even the Queen of Heaven joyfully serves God and serves others.
Prayer
Dear Lord, today, you talk about being with people who put on airs, who think themselves more important or more knowledgeable than they really are. Oh, how we want to puncture them with a few well-chosen words! Yet in reality they may be the most frightened and lonely people around. Help us to serve them, to ease or grow out of their fear instead of condemning them.
Saint of the Day
With this feast day the Church proclaims that Mary is Queen of Heaven because she so closely collaborated with Christ in the plan of salvation.
We call Jesus “Lord” and celebrate the feast of Christ the King in November, all the while recalling that his kingship is defined by his willingness to lay down his life for us. This model of leadership through service was taken up perfectly by Mary.
Mary laid down her life for us as well—she set herself aside when she said “yes” to God’s invitation to bear Jesus into the world. From that moment on, she remained close to Jesus, walking with him for every step of his earthly journey—including his ministry, suffering, and death. This closeness is depicted in an image in the Cavanaugh Hall chapel—Mary contemplates a crown of thorns while holding the infant Jesus.
This is why we revere Mary as Queen—we recognize her special place in the plan of salvation, while recalling that her queenship is really a participation in the lordship of Jesus. This is our calling as well—to conform ourselves to Christ by laying down our lives as Mary did.
This feast falls a week after the feast of Mary’s Assumption because major feasts in the Church are celebrated for a period of eight days (known as an “octave”). Mary’s coronation as Queen of Heaven is imagined in several scenes in the Basilica and in chapels across campus. The reliquary chapel in the Basilica contains a fragment of Mary’s veil.
Mary, Queen of Heaven, you laid down your life with Christ, pray for us!