Tuesday, August 22, 2006

On Queens and Needles


Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Readings for Tuesday
An Apology Regarding Mary, Mother of God and Queen of Heaven

Since today we celebrate Mary’s Queenship and the scripture takes us in a different direction, we thought you might enjoy a non-biblical reading that, in addition to the apology link above, might provide some inspiration on behalf of the Mother of God:

Reading From a homily by St. Amadeus of Lausanne, bishop

Queen of the world and of peace

Observe how fitting it was that even before her assumption the name of Mary shone forth wondrously throughout the world. Her fame spread everywhere even before she was raised above the heavens in her magnificence. Because of the honor due her Son, it was indeed fitting for the Virgin Mother to have first ruled upon earth and then be raised up to heaven in glory. It was fitting that her fame be spread in this world below, so that she might enter the heights of heaven on overwhelming blessedness. Just as she was borne from virtue to virtue by the Spirit of the Lord, she was transported from earthly renown to heavenly brightness.

So it was that she began to taste the fruits of her future reign while still in the flesh. At one moment she withdrew to God in ecstasy; at the next she would bend down to her neighbors with indescribable love. In heaven angels served her, while here on earth she was venerated by the service of men. Gabriel and the angels waited upon her in heaven. The virgin John, rejoicing that the Virgin Mother was entrusted to him at the cross, cared for her with the other apostles here below. The angels rejoiced to see their queen; the apostles rejoiced to see their lady, and both obeyed her with loving devotion.

Dwelling in the loftiest citadel of virtue, like a sea of divine grace or an unfathomable source of love that has everywhere overflowed its banks, she poured forth her bountiful waters on trusting and thirsting souls. Able to preserve both flesh and spirit from death she bestowed health-giving salve on bodies and souls. Has anyone ever come away from her troubled or saddened or ignorant of the heavenly mysteries? Who has not returned to everyday life gladdened and joyful because his request had been granted by the Mother of God?

She is a bride, so gentle and affectionate, and the mother of the only true bridegroom. In her abundant goodness she has channeled the spring of reason’s garden, the well of living and life-giving waters that pour forth in a rushing stream from divine Lebanon and flow down from Mount Zion until they surround the shores of every far-flung nation. With divine assistance she has redirected these waters and made them into streams of peace and pools of grace. Therefore, when the Virgin of virgins was led forth by God and her Son, the King of kings, amid the company of exulting angels and rejoicing archangels, with the heavens ringing with praise, the prophecy of the psalmist was fulfilled, in which he said to the Lord: At your right hand stands the queen, clothed in gold of Ophir.

Reflection:

While we honor the Virgin Mother of God today, we should not overlook an important message in scripture. Let’s start with what is being communicated by the Prophet Ezekiel. He is clearly speaking to the leader of Tyre (I think it is somewhat ironic that as we listen to Ezekiel talk about Tyre, the modern city stands in ruins because the Hezbolla used it as a staging ground to attach modern Israel and the Israeli air force responded.) What Ezekiel is trying to say, however, is that just because the Prince of Tyre has accumulated massive wealth, does not mean he has done what is important by following God’s law. The Prophet lets him know that all the money in the world is not going to do him any good when God judges.

This is actually important in understanding what Jesus says later in the Gospel. We should know that material wealth was considered by the Hebrews of this era to be a sign of favor from God. When Ezekiel says; “Because you have thought yourself to have the mind of a god, Therefore I will bring against you foreigners, the most barbarous of nations.” He is telling the Prince, in paraphrase; If you think that you gained your riches because you were in God’s favor and understood his will, you are sadly mistaken.

So, when Jesus says;” Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” We hear the disciples in St. Matthew’s Gospel cry out; “Who then can be saved?” It is because they understood material wealth to be a sign of God’s favor. The Lord is saying that gaining material wealth is not some special gift from the Father. In fact, based upon what he tells the disciples next, wealth is a hindrance.

Jesus uses the metaphor a camel passing through the eye of a needle. In Jesus’ day, the Eye of a Needle was a very narrow gate into Jerusalem that burdened camel could not go through. In modern language the Lord might say, you can’t take it with you, or, you can’t get it with the baggage. It needs to be checked at the door.

We won’t talk about the disciples at this point, we kind of guess that, since we consider them to be Saints, they received the reward they were worried about. What is important for us here is what do we, the richest people on earth, do about this whole “eye of a needle” thing. What I believe the Lord would tell us is the same thing he told the wealthy young man from yesterday’s readings. To gain eternal life, follow the commandments. If you want to be perfect, give all you own to the poor and follow Jesus.

It comes down to where our true treasure is. If it is in “things” then “things” will be our reward. If our true treasure is the Lord our Savior, he will be our reward.

Pax

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