Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this beautiful feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we gather to reflect on the profound mystery of Mary as the Queen Mother, a role deeply rooted in the Old Testament but gloriously fulfilled in the New Testament through her motherhood of Jesus Christ, our Lord and King.
In the Old Testament, the figure of the queen mother held a significant place in the royal court, particularly in the lineage of David. The queen mother, or "Gebirah," exercised considerable influence, serving as a powerful intercessor and advocate for the people. We see this role exemplified in figures such as Bathsheba, who approached her son Solomon to advocate for the needs of the people (1 Kings 2:19). The queen mother was a bridge, connecting the king with the subjects, embodying compassion and authority.
Today’s first reading from Ezekiel builds upon this hope of restoration and renewal. God promises to cleanse His people and put a new spirit within them. As we reflect on this promise, we can connect it to Mary because it is through her that the ultimate
intercessor, Jesus Christ, comes into the world. Mary, the Mother of the King, bears in her womb the living presence of God. Just as the queen mother was a channel of grace and intercession for the people, so is Mary the channel through which grace is poured out into our lives.
In Ezekiel, God speaks of taking away stony hearts and giving natural hearts filled with His Spirit. Mary embodies this promise in her profound “yes” at the Annunciation. She was the one who, filled with the Holy Spirit, agreed to bear the child who would reconcile humanity to God. Mary’s acceptance was not just a moment of obedience; it was her royal “yes” that ushered in the Kingdom of God among us, so as to hopefully transform our hearts from stone to flesh.
In the Gospel of Matthew, we encounter the parable of the wedding feast, which beautifully illustrates the invitation to partake in the Kingdom of Heaven. The King invites many to the feast—much like how God invites every one of us into communion with Him. Yet the parable also reveals a sobering truth: many who are invited refuse to attend, and only a few truly embrace the call.
Mary, as the Queen Mother, is the one who reflects how we ought to respond to God’s invitation. She is the epitome of readiness and willingness, the one who accepts God's invitation with open arms and an open heart. When we celebrate Mary as our queen, we are reminded that she never wavered in her faith, even when the world turned away.
In the parable, we find that while many are invited, few are chosen. This call invites us not only to respond to the invitation but to prepare ourselves adequately to be part of this heavenly banquet. Are we clothed in the virtue and grace that befits a guest at the King’s table? Mary, our Queen, shows us that the right garment for this feast is love, humility, and openness to the will of God.
As we celebrate the Queenship of Mary, let us deepen our understanding of her role as our intercessor. As the queen mother stood for her people, advocating for their needs, Mary stands for us before her Son. She is a mother who lovingly leads us to Jesus, helping us to dress appropriately for the wedding feast—clad not in earthly vestments, but with hearts transformed by divine love and grace.
May we follow her example, saying "yes" to God's invitation with the same faith and courage, allowing her to guide us into a deeper relationship with her Son, the true King of Heaven and Earth. As we honor Mary today, let us pray for the grace to respond passionately to the call of God and to share in the heavenly feast prepared for us.
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