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Queen of Heaven and Earth

In today’s Gospel, we hear about how the Blessed Mother hurried to her cousin Elizabeth when she learned from the Angel Gabriel that Elizabeth was six months pregnant. Upon Mary’s arrival, Elizabeth exclaimed: “And how does this happen to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” As we all know: Jesus is the Lord of both Heaven and Earth. When Elizabeth called Mary the “Mother of my Lord,” Elizabeth proclaims that Mary is the Queen of Heaven and Earth.

Unlike other queens, however, Mary never lived in a castle nor was she served by servants and dressed by handmaids. Instead, the Blessed Mother was Herself a servant. In the same Gospel of St. Luke, but just before the passage that I read today, Mary tells the Angel Gabriel: “I am the handmaid of the Lord.” We see this very clearly in today’s Gospel when Mary, pregnant with Jesus and already a queen because of this, hurries to St. Elizabeth to take care of her during the remainder of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. At a time when any other queen would claim that she should be served and taken care of, and at a time when most mothers feel sick in early pregnancy, the Blessed Mother forgets about herself and goes to serve others.

During this month of May, we honor Mary in a special way as our Mother and our Queen.

Mary loves us as Her own children, is closer to us than our natural mothers, and serves us by asking Her Son for all of the graces that we need to become great saints.

In Her tender care, She accompanies, guides, and protects us in every moment of our lives. It is fitting, therefore, that we honor Our Lady in a special way and show our love for Her as the Queen of Heaven and Earth and Our Queen by singing beautiful songs to her and crowning her with beautiful flowers that Her Son Himself created. We are so blessed to have such a beautiful Queen and Spiritual Mother in Heaven.

Yours in Christ,
Father Arthur

Readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter: Lectionary 52