THE WORD BECAME FLESH

 Monday of 21^st Week in Ordinary time, 2022

2Thes 1:1-5.11-12

Ps 96

Matt 23:13-22

 The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Blind guides…

Dear friends in Christ, today we celebrate the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This celebration which comes as the octave of the Assumption has its roots in the scriptures as the angel that brought the news to Mary announced that the child she will conceive will receive the throne of David and rule forever. Elizabeth also addressed her as the Mother of My Lord. If her son reigns as King, it follows that she is Queen. Her queenship is therefore a direct share of the Kingship of her Son. We pray for her maternal intercession as we continue to honor her.

Our first reading today (2Thessalonians 1:1-5.11-12) reveals the joy of St Paul concerning the growth of faith among the Thessalonians. He wrote, “We are bound to give thanks to God always for you brethren, as is fitting, because your faith is growing abundantly and the love of every one of you, for one another, is increasing. Therefore, we boast of you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you are enduring.” In this short passage, Paul begins a clarification on the virtues of ‘Faith,’ ‘Hope,’ and ‘Love,’ these three are used concerning our relationship with God. Sometimes, Paul uses ‘Endurance,’ in the place of ‘hope’ because that relates to what the hearers are experiencing at the moment. This nonetheless is in line with their hope of eternal life in Christ. This endurance is their successful resistance to the evil in the world. Endurance gives them the strength and fortitude not to give up in the face of present challenges to their faith. Paul then prays that “God will make them worthy of this call and fulfill every good resolve and work of faith…so that the name of Jesus may be glorified in you” We must align ourselves with the Thessalonians by not giving up. The times are tough and very challenging, but only those who have the spirit of endurance can see it through.

In the Gospel (Matthew 23:13-22), Jesus addressed some woes concerning those who do the opposite of the beatitudes. In this, Jesus marked clearly what is false religion from true religion. The Pharisees and the scribes were used in this passage because they were the most visible representations of what Jesus wanted to change in society. “You shut the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter go in.” This is not limited to Pharisees, there are people of our time who fail to allow others access to life-changing situations, even when they are not interested. Some are not willing to live out the gospel message and make it difficult for others to do so, they will rather lure the innocent ones into doing what they know to be wrong. Jesus calls them ‘blind guides.’ Are you a blind guide to those who look up to you, for their way through life; or in a particular situation? We cannot become stumbling blocks to those who genuinely seek to serve God and do His will.

Let us pray: O God, who made Mary the Mother of your Son and our Queen, grant us the grace to follow in her footsteps and so attain eternal beatitude. Amen. 

+Remain blessed