The Queenship of Mary

Judges 11:29-39, Mt. 22:1-14. Today's memorial is drawn from the Gospel of Luke 1:26-38, when the angel announced that Mary’s Son would receive the throne of David and would rule forever. At the Visitation (Lk. 1:39-56), Elizabeth calls Mary “mother of my Lord.” In her whole life, Mary was closely associated with Jesus, so that in popular devotion her queenship is a share in his kingship. When Pius XII proclaimed this memorial in 1954 he pointed out that Mary deserves the title “Queen” as the Mother of God, for three reasons: her close association with Jesus’ redemptive work, her preeminent perfection of holiness and her intercessory power on our behalf. We may recall that in the Old Testament the mother of the king has great influence in court life, as when Batsheba secured the kingship for her son, Solomon.

As Jesus is King by serving His Father and by compassion to others, so is Mary a Queen as the handmaid of the Lord and the Mother of mercy. If Mary now reigns with her Son in Heaven, it is because she gave herself over to God’s purpose for her earthly life, as Jesus did. It is clear that Mary was in a dilemma before reaching her famous response, so vital for the destiny of human race. There is always an element of struggle in reaching our understanding of what God wants from us. Mary’s response of total surrender to God’s purpose for her life did not come easy to her, such that it could also not come easy to us. However, in our struggle to live in harmony with God’s purpose for our lives, we have the assurance of Gabriel’s words to Mary, “Nothing is impossible to God.” What may seem impossible to us is always possible with God’s help. We can come to make our own the words of St Paul, “By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain” (1 Cor 15:10).

May the Lord create in us a new heart and renew His Spirit within us, so that we may faithfully do His Will! Amen!! Good morning and have a pleasant day!!!