Daily Gospel Reflection
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August 22, 2026
Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,
“The scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry
and lay them on people’s shoulders,
but they will not lift a finger to move them.
All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’
As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called ‘Master’;
you have but one master, the Christ.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. The full readings of the day from the Lectionary are available here.
Reflection
Jesus’ description of the scribes and Pharisees reminds us, by way of counterexample, of the beautifully humble Queenship of Mary. While the scribes are busy preaching but not practicing, Mary silently ponders all things in her heart. Rather than tying heavy burdens and not lifting a finger to help, Our Lady of Sorrows and the Undoer of Knots intercedes for us who are “mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.” While the Pharisees perform works to be seen, our loving Mother is at work in our lives in countless hidden ways. Instead of sitting in places of honor at banquets, we can imagine Mary our Queen seated humbly off to the side at the wedding feast of Cana.
If we are honest with ourselves, the attitudes of the scribes and Pharisees describe our attitudes and preferences more often than we would like to admit. We are prone to living as if we believed “whoever exalts himself will be exalted.” In Mary, as in her Son Jesus, we see an antithesis—or rather, an antidote—to our selfishness. Mary is queen, not because she has exalted herself in the pursuit of power, excellence, or dominance, but because of her simple and honest recognition that God is God, and she is not: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”
As we celebrate the Queenship of Mary, we reflect: Do I live as if I am God or as if I am a servant or handmaid of the Lord? When am I most inclined toward selfishness? What habits or attitudes feed my desire to exalt myself? What moments in life give me the opportunity to choose humility over recognition? What dispositions of Mary can inspire and shape my life of discipleship?
Prayer
Jesus, you taught the crowd and your disciples that whoever was to be the greatest among them would be their servant. May all leaders be inspired by your example of humility, seeking not to exalt themselves at the expense of others, but rather to serve and support those under their care. Amen.
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!