(Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a, 12:1-6a,10ab; Judith 13:18bcde,19; Lk 1:26-38 or Lk 1:39-47)
Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe and what a variety of readings there are for mass today! Our Lady of Guadalupe is revered in many countries throughout the world, but she is especially honored in Mexico. Is it any wonder? Her appearance in Mexico caused the conversion of thousands of people almost instantly, and within a short period of time, six million people converted to Christianity because of her.
That’s the thing about miracles. God doesn’t usually bestow miracles for the benefit of a single person. Miracles show God’s true presence among His people and the miracles are usually for the benefit of the larger community, not just the individuals involved.
Mary’s appearance in Mexico is kind of like the first reading for mass today, when it talks about God coming to dwell among the people, and that many nations would join themselves to the Lord on that day. Our Lady did the same thing. She came down from heaven and personally appeared to Juan Diego. The ripple effect was that Our Lady of Guadalupe is honored now in many nations throughout the world. She is the patron saint of the Americas.
Many people in America do not seem to understand Our Lady of Guadalupe very well though. They know that the Hispanic community in our country reveres her, but they do not seem to understand why they make such a big deal over her. Images of our Lady of Guadalupe can be found on everything in the Hispanic culture from paintings, to air fresheners and candles with her image on them in the department stores. Why are the Mexican people so fascinated with her?
Maybe it is because her appearance and the miracle of the roses was such a big deal in Mexico. It was a genuine miracle. If we had experienced a genuine miracle like this, we might want to keep it alive by telling the story to our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren too. Genuine miracles are a very rare thing. Fatima and Lourdes were also very rare occurrences in Portugal and France too, and people are still talking about them, and sharing their stories about what happened there to this day.
When Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego, she was pregnant. For this reason, she is the protector of the unborn and the patron saint of the pro-life ministries in the United States. When Our Lady appeared in Mexico, it was a pagan society at the time, that worshipped pagan gods and offered widespread human sacrifices, including thousands of innocent children each year. This may have been why she appeared in Mexico, so her miracle would cause the conversion of millions of people to Christianity.
The second reading for Mass today talks about Our Lady in the book of Revelation. The devil wanted to kill her child as soon as it was born, but God saved him, and the woman fled to the desert where she had a place prepared by God. This is exactly what happened after Christ’s birth too. Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus fled to Egypt.
Something to note about these verses in scripture from the book of Revelation, is that the devil is not just Our Lady’s adversary, but ours as well. If we are trying to live lives of holiness in accordance with God’s will, the devil will do his best to destroy whatever goodness is occurring in our lives. One sure sign that you are doing God’s will, is the presence of the devil. The closer you get to God and the more good you do, and the more you attempt to follow His will, the more the devil will attack your life – and sometimes those you love as well. The thing that is hard to do is to recognize the devil’s influence on our lives and our family, in order to escape his attack the same way that Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus did. It’s hard to see the big picture and we are often caught up in the present moment and circumstances in our lives though.
The last two readings for mass today are about the angel Gabriel’s visit to Mary, announcing that she would be the mother of Jesus, and then Mary’s visit to see her cousin Elizabeth. God’s plans sometimes are not initially understood, but the beauty of His wisdom is later revealed. When we are in the thick of things in our own life, it is hard to see the big picture but that’s ok. God sees the big picture and we are often cooperating with His will, without even realizing it at the time.
Mary had complete confidence and trust in God in every situation in her life, even when she did not understand it or know the outcome. Mary is the greatest saint in the Catholic church because of this reason though. We should remember her example when we struggle with uncertainty and doubts of our own.
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Prayer to the Virgin of Guadalupe by Pope John Paul II
Virgin of Guadalupe,
Mother of the Americas …
grant to our homes the grace
of loving and respecting life in its beginnings
with the same love
with which you conceived in your womb
the life of the Son of God.
Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Fair Love,
protect our families, so that they may always be united,
and bless the upbringing of our children.
We beg you to grant us a great love
for all the holy Sacraments,
which are, as it were, the signs
that your Son left us on earth.
Thus, Most Holy Mother,
with the peace of God in our conscience,
with our hearts free from evil and hatred,
we will be able to bring to all
true joy and true peace,
which come to us from your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who with God the Father and the Holy Spirit,
lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Amen.
~ Blessed John Paul II
