Bible Diary

Daily Reading

Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

LECTIONARY
424

FIRST READING

EZ 43:1-7AB

The angel led me to the gate which faces the east,
and there I saw the glory of the God of Israel
coming from the east.
I heard a sound like the roaring of many waters,
and the earth shone with his glory.
The vision was like that which I had seen
when he came to destroy the city,
and like that which I had seen by the river Chebar.
I fell prone as the glory of the LORD entered the temple
by way of the gate which faces the east,
but spirit lifted me up and brought me to the inner court.
And I saw that the temple was filled with the glory of the LORD.
Then I heard someone speaking to me from the temple,
while the man stood beside me.
The voice said to me:
Son of man, this is where my throne shall be,
this is where I will set the soles of my feet;
here I will dwell among the children of Israel forever.

PSALM

85:9AB AND 10, 11-12, 13-14

Response: The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.

I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD–for he proclaims peace.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.

Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.

The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.

GOSPEL

MT 23:1-12

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.”

Daily Reflection

Exactly a week after the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, we commemorate the Queenship of Mary. This memorial was instituted by Pope Pius XII in 1954. His desire was that as Christ is our Lord and King by a special title because He redeemed us, so the Blessed Virgin is our Lady and Queen because of the unique way in which she has cooperated toward our redemption. The Gospel recounts this through the Annunciation where she freely gave of her own substance, accepting Jesus willingly for us, and thus inaugurating our salvation.

In the first reading, Prophet Isaiah’s words, that those who have walked in darkness have seen a great light, echoes the meaning of Mary’s Queenship. Mary reflects Christ in everything — like the moon reflects the sun.

As the Church looks to her radiated light, we are called not to be alienated from her — like a serf is from her queen. Rather, Mary elevates the simple and ordinary to the level of Queenship. In it we see the intimacy that the Church and every person therein, is called to share with Christ.