The Feast of Our Lady, Queen | Tuesday 22 August 2023

Today is Tuesday the 22nd of August, the feast of Our Lady, Queen.

The Gaudete Ensemble sings, ‘Ave Maria’ by Margaret Rizza.

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus
et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae.
Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 19:23-30

Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.’

Then Peter said in reply, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.

Today is the Feast of the Queenship of Mary. For the Catholic Church this recognises Mary’s role – pointing us toward Jesus – as a role that continues on Earth and in Heaven. People respond to Mary in different ways. Consider where Mary is in your faith life.

In this passage, we hear Jesus speak again about the rich. The fantastical image of the poor camel is meant to have an impact. Do you hear condemnation, or concern, or something else?

Jesus offers hope, more than hope. He repeats the assurance that the Angel Gabriel offered to Mary at the Annunciation, ‘for God all things are possible’. Did you notice this? What is your response?

As you listen again, notice that, although Jesus reassures his friends, it is not just his friends. The invitation, the hope, is for everyone…

“But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” One of Mary’s attributes is the ability to ponder, to hold thoughts and experiences in her heart. On her feast day, take time to ponder - being last still means you get in.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.