December 12, 2017

Madre Ssma. de Guadalupe

December 12, 2017:  Our Lady of Guadalupe

See about a dozen connections with today?
Legend below
Listen
For gospel
Magnificat settings (since end of gospel is the start of the Magnificat)
Pope Francis homily
Elizabeth was both sterile and fertile.  In her sterility, she felt stigmatized and belittled by those who considered her condition as a punishment for sin.  Juan Diego felt the same, as do indigenous and Afro-American communities often mistreated, women excluded because of their gender, undereducated youth who can't continue their studies or find work, migrants expelled from their land, peasants trying to survive, and children subjected human trafficking.  But Elizabeth is fruitful; in her we understand God's dream is to make blessing flow in ‎and from them.  Likewise, Juan Diego's mantle was imprinted with a mixed-race image of Mary to show she can assume the ‎traits of her children to make them feel her blessing.;
The fertility-sterility dialectic draws our attention to the richness and diversity of the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean, which should be cultivated and defended from attempts at homogenization that ends up in sterility.  Our fruitfulness asks us to defend people from ideological colonization that cancels their richness....
Read

  • Zec 2:14-17  Rejoice!  I'm coming to dwell among you.  Many shall join themselves to the Lord and be his people.  Silence!  The Lord stirs forth from his holy dwelling.
  • Jdt 13:18bcde, 19  "You're the highest honor of our race."  Blessed are you, daughter, above all women, and blessed be Creator God.  Those who tell God's might won't forget your deed of hope.
  • Lk 1:26-38  Gabriel / Mary:  “Hail, full of grace!  The Lord is with you.  Don't be afraid; you'll bear a son and name him Jesus; he'll be called Son of the Most High.  God will give him David's throne; he'll rule forever.”  “How?” “The Holy Spirit and God's power.  The child will be God's Son.  'Barren' Elizabeth has also conceived; nothing is impossible for God.”  “I'm the Lord's handmaid; may it be done.”
  • Lk 1:39-47  Mary traveled to Zechariah's house.  When Elizabeth heard Mary, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, Spirit-filled, cried, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.  How can my Lord's mother come to me?  When I heard you, my son leaped.  Blessed are you who believed what God told you.”  Mary:  “My soul proclaims God's greatness.”
Reflect

  • Solidarity with immigrants:   As we celebrate the Patroness of the Americas and the Unborn, honor the accomplishments, hopes, fears, and needs of families who have come to the US seeking a better life.   "Remember the unique role and importance of Our Lady of Guadalupe, unifier, peacebuilder, and protectress of families, including families separated and far from home" (Bishop Vásquez, USCCB Migration Committee chair).  Accompany migrants and refugees seeking opportunity to provide for their families.  Justice for Immigrants has background and scriptural information on Our Lady of Guadalupe (English, Spanish) and more...
  • Creighton:  The appearance at Guadalupe, this feast's foundation, is one of many events where Mary appears to the poor and dispossessed, asking them to warn or correct the powerful.  Spaniards brought a version of Catholicism to the New World but corrupted it by using leadership positions to reward men loyal to the crown.  Mary's appearance was a statement of God’s favor on the poor and humble and a warning to the powerful that their power would be struck down.
Today’s feast of the patroness of the Americas reminds us that wealth is to be shared and human dignity honored.  The readings point to Mary’s role as a sacrament and voice of the Lord.  The gospels point to Mary’s compliance with God’s will and her servant love toward her cousin, who recognized her visit as a sign of God’s coming.  The text illuminates Mary as God-bearer.  This same Mary appears to Juan Diego as the compassionate mother of the Aztec people.  She carries Jesus in her womb, bringing the good news and its attendant hope, and asks Juan Diego to bear her message to the Archbishop, who had neglected his flock in pursuit of his own interests.  May we align ourselves with Mary and the poor.  May God's mercy be my message....
  • One Bread, One Body:  "Help me, Mother":  If we obey God's commandments, our prosperity would be like a river, our vindication like the waves, our descendants numerous, and our name never cut off.  "If my people hear me, and Israel walks in my ways, I'll humble their enemies."  But we act "like children squatting in the town squares," disobeying others while wanting others to obey us.  When Jesus told Mary, who always did God's will, to adopt us, he gave us someone to teach us obedience.  May she teach us to rely on the Lord's grace and obey, doing "whatever he tells" us; may we say and live:  "I am the Lord's servant.  Let it be done to me as you say."
  • Passionist:  God's Word brings us to the fulfillment of God’s plan, the harmonization of creation, the reunification with with our Creator; it proclaims a non-violent response to evil, teaches love of our enemies and persecutors, asks us to surrender to God’s loving will, and attracts what's broken, abused, addicted, disrespected, and scattered.  This Word became flesh again in Mary's appearance to Juan Diego in 1531.  The Spaniards had entered Mexico to abscond gold by enslaving the natives; the relationship evolved into genocide.  Their horrific actions and Mary's sudden appearance reflect the imagery of today's Revelation and gospel readings where pregnant Mary stands strong against the dragon who wanted to devour the newborn; she “magnifies the Lord,” and “rejoices in God her savior.”  We see our Virgencita's love for the oppressed and downtrodden.  Today's feast reminds us that the Word continues to become flesh through our activity to establish God's kingdom.
  • DailyScripture.net:  "God carries us in his bosom":  God won't rest till we find our way home to him.   God promised he'd shepherd his people and lead them to safety.  God sent his only son as Messiah King to restore peace and justice and shepherd and care for his people with love and compassion.  Jesus is the good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep.  Jesus insisted that sinners must be sought out. God desires we be brought back and restored to friendship with him. God is on a rescue mission to save us from destruction.  The Good Shepherd watches over our every step.  May we listen to him, heed his counsel, and follow the path he's set for you.
Today's saints, from Universalis
Dress legend
  • 'Signs' tie:  Signs in the sky (1st reading)
  • 'Sun' and 'feet' pins:  Woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet (1st reading)
  • 'Dove' pin:  The Holy Spirit will come upon Mary; Elizabeth was filled with the Spirit (gospel)
  • 'Magnificat' pin (gospel)
  • 'Star' tie pin:  Woman clothed with the sun with crown of stars; dragon's tail swept stars away (1st reading)
  • 'Crown' tie bar:  Crown of stars on sun-clothed woman, diadems on dragon's heads (1st reading)
  • 'Angel' pin:  Gabriel came to Mary (gospel)
  • White shirt:  Color of today's feast
  • Purple in suspenders:  Advent season
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