Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

Blessed Virgin Mary is a queen.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Tuesday of 20th Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, and the Memorial of  Queenship of Mary, August 22nd, 2023
Texts: Judges 6:11-24; Psalm 85:9,11-14; Matthew 19:23-30 

We celebrate today the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Being the mother of Jesus Christ, the King, the Blessed Virgin Mary is a queen. The Queenship of Mary further strengthens her intercessory role. Today we are assure once again the efficacy of the prayer of Mary.  

Today’s readings remind us that what we have is enough for us to attain any height in life. The Lord said to Gideon thus: “Go in this might of yours and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?" God has deposited in us what it takes to accomplish the purpose for our life. However, our success comes from being sent by God, not on the strength of our potential. Our success is independent of status, class, race, etc. No matter the size of what we have, it is enough, for the success belongs to God. We should not underestimate what God can do through us.  

God is the one who will make it possible

The problem with us is that we often underestimate ourselves; we use human standards. This is when we forget that God has a take in our success. We see this in the life of the apostles. They thought that attaining eternal life is dependent on riches. They were surprised when Jesus said that it would be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. They asked the question, “Who then can be saved?" Jesus answered them thus: "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." God is the one who will make it possible.

Today we hear the word, “Peace be to you; do not fear, you shall not die." What is this peace? It is the assurance of God’s presence, confidence in God’s security and protection. It is the acknowledgement that God is with us and working for us. Such peace is beyond human condition. We can attain it in any condition. However, it cannot be attained by anyone; only the faithful can attain it. This is clear in today’s Psalm: “I will hear what the Lord God speaks; he speaks of peace for his people and his faithful, and those who turn their hearts to him.”

Fear can sabotage the peace

The enemy of the peace is fear. The Lord says, “do not fear, you shall not die." This peace could filter away in fear. Fear can sabotage the peace and make us doubt the possibilities in us.  This also tells us that the peace is not absence of ordeals or threatening events. The peace is anchored on confidence in God. The word ‘peace be to you’ means we enjoy God’s favour, presence, support, pleasure, protection, and the likes. It means God is good and pleased with us. It means God has interest in our good and well-being.  

Prayer  

O God, who made the Mother of your Son to be our Mother and our Queen, graciously grant that, sustained by her intercession, we may attain in the heavenly Kingdom the glory promised to your children. Amen (Collect) 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke