Daily Catholic Lectio
Sat, 22 Aug 2026
XX Week in Ordinary Time
Queenship of Mary, Memorial
Eze 43:1-7. Mt 23:1-12
Titles and Identity
In the time of Jesus, six groups were prominent: the Pharisees, the scribes, the Sadducees, the Herodians, the Zealots, and the Essenes. Among them, the Pharisees gave great importance to religious purity. The scribes were those who studied the Law and taught it. They taught with the authority of Moses.
Those who studied the Scriptures taught with the authority of their teacher, of God, or of Moses. Because of this, they were considered important and worthy of respect. But, in the course of time, the state of being respected became the desire to seek respect. Those who were naturally honoured by the people began to desire that others must honour them. This desire began to appear in different outward practices. They made great efforts to identify themselves before others. At the same time, they did not try to practise what they taught.
In this background, Jesus says to His disciples: “Do whatever they teach you, but do not do as they do.”
Then Jesus asks His disciples to give up titles such as “Rabbi” and “Teacher” and to accept the identity of service. The disciple of Jesus is not one who searches for titles, but one who lives as a servant.
Our mind naturally seeks recognition, praise, and acceptance from others. Jesus asks us to stop this desire for greatness. In such situations, we allow others to occupy our thoughts and to define our identity.
This is the exaltation Jesus speaks about. The one who humbles himself is not raised by another person. He is raised from within. He stands high by himself. He does not need another person to make him great.
In today’s first reading, Ezekiel sees the glory of the Lord entering the temple. The temple becomes holy not because of human titles, human honours, or human positions, but because the glory of God dwells there. In the same way, our identity becomes true not when people honour us, but when God’s presence dwells within us.
Today, on the eighth day after the Solemnity of the Assumption, we celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen. We also meditate on this in the fifth glorious mystery of the Rosary.
Mary said to God, “I am the handmaid of the Lord.” She surrendered herself as the servant of the Lord. Her humility raised her to the dignity of Queen. She is also called Queen because she gave birth to Christ, the King of the universe.
Mary’s queenship came through her humility.
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
A Yesni Prays Initiative
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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