Mary also embraced a role of service, spending her days as a cook and laundress for her family and sweeping the dirt floor of their modest home (she recognizes her lowliness in her Magnificat). Yet, today she is known and loved the world over as Queen of Heaven and Earth.

Repeatedly in Scripture, we see examples of Our Lord calling the least capable to perform a seemingly daunting task, like asking Moses (a murderer with a speech impediment) to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. It is often said that “God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called.” Often, we, as recovering addicts, feel unworthy and ill-equipped but our Twelfth Step work reminds us that we cannot keep to ourselves that which we have been generously given, since “for God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

Reflection Questions

• Do you find dignity and purpose in performing the daily, ordinary tasks of your station in life?
• Consider your personal strengths and weaknesses. Give an example of a time in your life when God called you to accomplish a duty that you felt inadequate to perform.

Daily Mass Readings

First Reading: Ruth 1:1, 3-6, 14b-16, 22
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 146:5-6ab, 6c-7, 8-9a, 9bc-10
Gospel: Matthew 22:34-40

Reflection by Kay P.