“Today we celebrate Mary as Queen.
When we hear the word “queen,” we usually think of a crown, a throne, a palace, power and privilege. But when we look at today’s Gospel, we see none of these.
We see a young woman in the little town of Nazareth. No palace. No throne. No servants around her. And yet this simple woman would become the Queen of Heaven and Earth. Why?
The Gospel gives us three beautiful reasons.
Like Mary, listen to God.
Everything begins with Mary listening. The angel Gabriel came to her and spoke God’s message. Mary was troubled. She had questions. She did not understand everything. But she listened.
Today, we are surrounded by so many voices. Social media tells us what to believe. Influencers tell us what is important. Advertisements tell us what will make us happy. Technology and AI can give us answers almost instantly. But not every voice deserves to guide our lives.
Mary teaches us something very simple: Before listening to the world, listen to God. Before making an important decision, pray. Before reacting in anger, pray. Before deciding what to do with your family, your work, your relationships, your future—listen first.
Sometimes we ask, “Lord, why are You not speaking to me?” Perhaps God is speaking. The question is: Are we quiet enough to hear Him?
Like Mary, trust God even when you do not understand.
Mary asked the angel: “How can this be?” She had questions. But eventually she said: “Let it be done to me according to your word.”
Mary did not know everything that would happen next. She did not know how Joseph would react. She did not know what people would say. She did not know that one day she would have to flee with her Child to Egypt. She did not know that one day she would stand beneath a Cross and watch her Son die. Still, she said yes. That is faith.
Faith is not saying, “Lord, I understand everything.” Faith is saying, “Lord, I don’t understand everything, but I trust You.”
Perhaps some of you are carrying uncertainties today. You are worried about your children. You are struggling financially. Someone in the family is sick. Your marriage is going through difficulty. You are uncertain about your work or your future.
Mary tells us today: You don’t have to understand everything before you can entrust everything to God. Sometimes the most beautiful prayer we can offer is simply: “Lord, I don’t know what will happen, but I trust You.”
Like Mary, serve humbly.
Here is perhaps the most beautiful thing about the Queenship of Mary. The woman we call Queen of Heaven calls herself: “the handmaid of the Lord.”
What a beautiful paradox! Mary became Queen because she was willing to be a servant. The world says: If you want to be great, climb higher. Mary says: If you want to be great, bend lower. The world says: Make people serve you. Mary says: Serve others. The world says: Make yourself important. Mary says: Make yourself available.
And after the Annunciation, what does Mary do? She does not sit down and wait to be treated like a queen. She goes immediately to help Elizabeth. That is the kind of Queen Mary is.
And that is why honoring Mary is not simply putting flowers before her image or joining a procession. Those are beautiful expressions of devotion. But the best way to honor Mary is to live like Mary. Listen like Mary. Trust like Mary. Serve like Mary.
Mama, today you are our queen
There is a beautiful story told about a mother who worked for many years as a house helper.
Every morning she woke up before everyone else. She prepared breakfast, washed clothes, cleaned the house, and cared for her children. She wore no beautiful jewelry. She owned very little.
Years later, one of her children became successful.
One day, during a family celebration, the children surprised their mother. They placed a simple crown on her head and said: “Mama, today you are our queen.”
The mother laughed and said: “Queen? I have spent my whole life cooking, washing clothes, cleaning the house and taking care of all of you!”
And her son answered: “Exactly, Mama. That is why you are our queen.”