Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Lectionary: 690A

“Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"

We can suppose that every visionary from Saint Elizabeth to Saint John of Patmos to Saint Juan Diego and the children of Medugorje have echoed Elizabeth's ecstatic question, "How does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" 

In fact, everyone who knows the Lord Jesus should ponder the same wonderful privilege. To know the Lord is to be blessed by his Mother. We have heard the Angel's word, "Do not be afraid to take her into your home!" And we have obeyed Jesus' command, "Behold your mother." 

First we heard his word to her -- "Behold your son!" -- and then we felt her embrace. We might feel awkward about it -- which of us has not suffered that adolescent awkwardness? -- but we've learned to receive it. And to be reassured, guided, and governed by it. If the Church seemed closed and forbidding to some of us as we came to Jesus, she welcomed us in and made us feel at home.

No sooner had Europeans arrived in America with their soldiers, settlers, merchants, and priests than Mary appeared to reassure the natives about the European religion. Neither she nor her faith can be owned by Europe. It is given for all nations, and will gather all nations into the peace of God's kingdom. 

Our Lady of Guadalupe comes to the United States from Mexico to remind us of our Catholic heritage. We are the original Christian Church, unreformed by some standards, but faithful nonetheless because she is the first of us, and her heart is pure. She heard and obeyed the Lord's command to her before he spoke to us:

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” (John 19:26-27)

Like her God and the Father of Jesus Christ, Mary does not relinquish her claim on her children anymore than God does. And that, despite our sins and reluctance and refusal! What kind of woman would accept her child's rejection of her as the last word? Certainly not the Mother of Jesus! 

As we prepare for the Solemnity of the Nativity of Jesus, Mary comes to us from Mexico to remind us that our faith is more precious than passing silver and gold; and that nothing in this world is more valuable than faith.