DAILY- HOMILY

August 22, 2007
Solemnity, Queenship of Mary
Wednesday 20th Week in Ordinary Time - Year I

JUDGES 9:6-15
All the citizens of Shechem and all Beth-millo came together and
proceeded to make Abimelech king by the terebinth at the memorial
pillar in Shechem. When this was reported to him, Jotham went to the
top of Mount Gerizim and, standing there, cried out to them in a loud
voice: "Hear me, citizens of Shechem, that God may then hear you! Once
the trees went to anoint a king over themselves. So they said to the
olive tree, 'Reign over us.' But the olive tree answered them, 'Must I
give up my rich oil, whereby men and gods are honored, and go to wave
over the trees?' Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'Come; you reign
over us!' But the fig tree answered them, 'Must I give up my sweetness
and my good fruit, and go to wave over the trees?' Then the trees said
to the vine, 'Come you, and reign over us.' But the vine answered
them, 'Must I give up my wine that cheers gods and men, and go to wave
over the trees?' Then all the trees said to the buckthorn, 'Come; you
reign over us!' But the buckthorn replied to the trees, 'If you wish
to anoint me king over you in good faith, come and take refuge in my
shadow. Otherwise, let fire come from the buckthorn and devour the
cedars of Lebanon.'"

MATTHEW 20:1-16
Jesus told his disciples this parable: "The Kingdom of heaven is like
a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.
After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into
his vineyard. Going out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing
idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, 'You too go into my
vineyard, and I will give you what is just.' So they went off. And he
went out again around noon, and around three o'clock, and did
likewise. Going out about five o'clock, he found others standing
around, and said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?' They
answered, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You too go
into my vineyard.' When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said
to his foreman, 'Summon the laborers and give them their pay,
beginning with the last and ending with the first.' When those who had
started about five o'clock came, each received the usual daily wage.
So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but
each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they
grumbled against the landowner, saying, 'These last ones worked only
one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day's
burden and the heat.' He said to one of them in reply, 'My friend, I
am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily
wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one
the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?
Are you envious because I am generous?' Thus, the last will be first,
and the first will be last."

REFLECTION
Why do we celebrate Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth? It is because
of that little line at the end of the Gospel reading: "Behold, I am
the handmaiden of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to Thy word."
It is because Mary spent her entire life, and now she spends her
eternity, in service to her children. Because she is our mother and
because all that she does and all that she has ever done is to serve,
to pour herself out for her Son and for all of those who would be
saved by him, she prays for us before the throne of Almighty God.

Remember that the royal office is one of service. It is not one who is
served by everyone else. Jesus said, "I came into this world, not to
be served, but to serve; and to give My life as a ransom for the
many."

Mary, who is the most perfect imitator and follower of Jesus, did
exactly the same. She did not seek to be served, but she gave, and she
continues to give. She is a mother before she is anything else. And
because she is a mother she is the queen because she is the one who
intercedes for her children. She continues to serve each one of us in
Heaven through her intercession for us before the throne of God. That
is why she is the queen.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
... for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
... for the strength, healing and speedy recovery of:
- Myra
- Matet Rey
- Damaso Guevara
- Dodo
- Tom Diokno
- Ely
... for the personal intentions of:
- Jasmin
- Guevara Family
- the San Juan de Dios Hospital
... In Thanksgiving: Balangit Family
... for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Remberto Gascon, Estrella Gascon, Danilo Gascon, Florence
Gascon
- Minda Flowers
Eternal rest grant unto them and may perpetual light shine upon them.
May they and all the dearly departed rest in peace.
... for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Aurora Ong Sy
- Birthday: Bryan L. Lim
- Birthday: Justin Peter Lim
- In Memoriam (+): Carmen Tan Ngo
... for world peace and reconciliation.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our
prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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