Queenship of Mary: The Manfestation of God's Glory

Reflection on Today's Readings and the Memorial of   the Queenship of Mary, Saturday, 20th Week in Ordinary Time Year II, 22nd August, 2020
Texts: Ez. 43:1-7; Ps. 85:9-14; Matt. 23:1-12
Man lives to manifest the glory of God. Today's first reading subtly affirms the saying of St. Irenaeus: the glory of God is man fully alive. God often manifests his glory through his people. Prophet Ezekiel, in the first reading, associates the return of the people of Israel from exile with the glory of God. He says, "And Behold, the glory of God of Israel came from the east; and the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with his glory". The glory of God is his presence and manifestation. The prophet shows the glory of God moved to the east with people of God going into exile in the east. He says, "And the vision I saw was like the vision which I had seen when he came to destroy the city". The people of God are the glory of God. They are the glory of God because they are his manifestation and presence; God moved with his people. The coming of the glory of God from the east is the return of the people of God, their return to their home. Hence, the man standing with the prophet says, "Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the sons of Israel for ever".
Man's goal on earth is to manifest God's glory and as such his model is God, his teacher is Christ, his master is also Christ, and his Father to look up to is God. Hence, in today's gospel, Jesus Christ says, "The scribes and Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; so practice and observe what they tell you, but not what they do". We, priests, pastors, etc, speak the word of God to you, so keep the word, not what we do. Do not let what we do discourage you from keeping the word of God.
Today we celebrate the queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary.The glory of God shines splendidly through the queenship of Mary. The splendour of God's glory would not have shone better in anyone's life than Mary.
The Queenship of Mary is from her being mother of Jesus Christ, who is the king of kings. The Queenship of Mary is a service to humanity. Mary is the mother of the king who has come to serve, not to be served. Mary is great in heaven because of her saving service to humanity. It is affirmed in today's gospel thus: "He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; he who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted". Mary is exalted and made Queen because of her saving service. The Church says, "This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues uninterruptedly from the consent which she loyally gave at the Annunciation and which she sustained without wavering beneath the cross, until the eternal fulfilment of the elect. Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation" (CCC no: 969). If we have Mary as our model, the glory of God will shine splendidly in our lives.

Lord our God implant in our hearts the desire for service that your glory may shine splendidly in our lives. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke