Tuesday, August 21, 2012

 

THE QUEENSHIP OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

AUGUST 22, 2012
WEDNESDAY 20TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR II
THE QUEENSHIP OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Ez 34:1-11 / Mt 20:1-16

EZEKIEL 34:1-11
The word of Yahweh came to me in these terms, "Son of man, speak on my behalf against the shepherds of Israel! Say to the shepherds on my behalf: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock? But you feed on milk and are clothed in wool, and you slaughter the fattest sheep. You have not taken care of the flock, you have not strengthened the weak, cared for the sick or band aged the injured. You have not gone after the sheep that strayed or searched for the one that was lost. Instead you ruled them harshly and were their oppressors. They have scattered for want of a shepherd and became prey of wild animals. My sheep wander over the mountains and high hills; and when they are scattered throughout the land, no one bothers about them or looks for them. Hear then shepherds, what Yahweh says: As I live—word of Yahweh,— because my sheep have been the prey of wild animals and become their food for want of shepherds, because the shepherds have not cared for my sheep, because you shepherds have not bothered about them but fed yourselves and not the flocks, because of that, hear the word of Yahweh. This is what Yahweh says: I will ask an account of the shepherds and reclaim my sheep from them. No longer shall they tend my flock; nor shall there be shepherds who feed themselves. I shall save the flock from their mouths and no longer shall it be food for them. Indeed Yahweh says this: I myself will care for my sheep and watch over them.

MATTHEW 20:1-16
This story throws light on the kingdom of Heaven: A landowner went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay each worker the usual daily wage, and sent them to his vineyard. He went out again at about nine in the morning, and seeing others idle in the town square, he said to them, `You also, go to my vineyard, and I will pay you what is just.' So they went. The owner went out at midday, and again at three in the afternoon, and he did the same. Finally he went out at the last working hour— the eleventh hour—and he saw others standing there. So he said to them, `Why do you stay idle the whole day?' They answered, `Because no one has hired us.' The master said, `Go and work in my vineyard.' When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, `Call the workers and pay them their wage, beginning with the last and ending with the first.' Those who had come to work at the eleventh hour turned up, and were each given a silver coin. When it was the turn of the first, they thought they would receive more. But they, too, each received a silver coin. So, on receiving it, they began to grumble against the landowner. They said, `These last hardly worked an hour, yet you have treated them the same as us, who have endured the heavy work of the day and the heat.' The owner said to one of them, `Friend, I have not been unjust to you. Did we not agree on one silver coin per day? So take what is yours and go. I want to give to the last the same as I give to you. Don't I have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Why are you envious when I am kind?' So will it be: the last will be first, the first will be last."

REFLECTION
Mary's Queenship is a sharing in the royalty of her Son. Its roots go back to the Annunciation with the message of the angel. Mary calls herself "the handmaid of the Lord" – a servant. Jesus defines his mission as one who comes not to be served but to serve.

Jesus and Mary are very closely associated, inseparable, united. Pius XII expressed very well the reasons for Mary's title of "Queen:" "He, the Son of God, reflects on His heavenly mother the dominion of His kingship. Jesus is king throughout all eternity by nature and by right of conquest. Mary is queen by grace, by divine relationship, by right of conquest, through Him, with Him, and subordinate to Him and by singular choice of the Father. And her kingdom is as vast as that of her Son and God."

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Fr. Ismael Zuloaga, SJ
- Kathy
- Eriberta Calvario
- Cipriano Maribojoc
- Totoy Reyes
- Elean Flores
- Mon Torres
- Fleur Torres
… for the personal intentions of
- Maria Liza Maribojoc-Espinoza
- Beny Chua
- Binu Antony
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Xavier Javier, Rowena L. Yap, Bong Lacida, Jess Graces
- Jesse Manalastas Robredo
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: Aleli Briones
- Birthday: Nicole Elise Yu
- Birthday: Nilaida S. Enriquez
- Wedding Anniversary: Michiko Magdalene & Rory Shim
… for families who are in need of healing
… 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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