Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Saturday of the 20th week in ordinary time, August 22, 2026, Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Delivered by Vivian from the Parish of Saint Thomas the Apostle in the Archdiocese of Jakarta, Indonesia. Ezekiel 43: 1-7a; Rs psalm 85: 9ab-10.11-12.13-14; Matthew 23: 1-12.FACING THE THRONE OF THE KINGDOM Our meditation today has the theme: Facing the Thronethe Kingdom. Today the whole Church celebrates the memorial of the Queenship ofthe Blessed Virgin Mary. This celebration is one of the various devotions thatwe always offer to the Blessed Mother. In one part of our devotion of theRosary, particularly when we meditate on the fifth glorious mystery, we giveour attention on the mystery of Our Lady who was crowned as queen of heaven andearth. The title queenship of Mary defines the position that the Virgin Maryhad assumed in the participation of the Kingship of Christ to rule overeverything in heaven and on earth. There is no separation or division of powers betweenJesus and Mary. There is no democratic system of power division between partiesinvolved in the Kingdom of heaven. The sovereignty is only one and it is in thehands of Jesus Christ. Mary as the Blessed Mother took part in it as the firsthuman being to do this act and then followed by generations who walk toward thethrone of this kingdom. They keep facing this throne because it is their finaldestination. Facing Him on the throne means we give our trust, obedience,respect and  we are happy to follow thisroyal path. In his prophesy, the prophet Ezekiel found the gloryof God inside the temple of Jerusalem, and he was commanded to bring alldevotions and adorations of the people of God to the throne of God's glory. theplace the Lord had chosen to dwell forever among His people. Temples and placesof worship are the throne of God's kingdom that appear physically to usbelievers. Our Lady remains the queen of that throne of the same kingdom, fromwhere she always prays for us sinners. The apostles had chosen to follow Jesus Christ in aradical way, and they were convinced by Jesus to share also their entire livesin His kingdom, which had been inherited by the tribes of Israel. Each of theseapostles became the bishop in every local Church that they led, and they remainunited to the Universal Church with only one leadership for all. The bishopsare the high priests in their respective Churches that they govern. Theirresponsibilities are to bring and direct all the people of God to face the Oneof the throne of the kingdom, who is Jesus Christ. The Pope occupies thatthrone in the world, so it is very proper that we all face the Pope who is onhis special chair which we all know in the Vatican. We always face the kingdom of Jesus when we pray everyday: "Your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as it is inheaven". This gives us a sense of security and feel at home, then itgoverns us through the power of the Holy Spirit, that we may live inrighteousness. We use this kingdom every moment of our lives to strengthen ourfellowship, brotherhood and solidarity on earth among the followers of Christ,so that we can avoid any form divisions and confusions that lead us away fromthe Lord. Let'spray. In the name of the Father ... O God and almighty Father, we always prayfor the coming of Your kingdom in our midst. May we always be faithful infollowing the path of Your kingdom. Our Father who art in heaven ... In thename of the Father ...