Monday of the
Fourth Week of Advent
(I Samuel 1:24-28; Luke 1:46-56)
One of Mary’s titles is “Queen of Apostles.” She sits among Jesus’ most intimate followers
at the Pentecost event, but there is a more cogent reason for naming her their
queen. Mary is the first to preach the
good news as an apostle. She responds to the word of the angel that her
relative Elizabeth was pregnant by going forth to the expectant mother. There Mary deflects Elizabeth’s salutation,
“Blessed are you among women…,” with a homiletic tribute to God’s glory.
Mary proclaims the greatness of God because He has not
only done great things for her but also “has cast down the mighty from their
thrones.” It is evident that God has
chosen her to be the mother of His Son, but as yet the mighty still sit
comfortably while the hungry scrounge. What
gives? Only this: Mary foretells the imminent
reversal of these fortunes with the coming of her son.
