Sunday, December 11, 2005
MEMORIAL, OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
MEMORIAL, OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
DAILY-HOMILY
Dec 11 2005 02:14AM
DECEMBER 12, 2005
MEMORIAL, OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
ZECHARIAH 2:14-17
Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! See, I am coming to dwell among
you, says the LORD. Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD
on that day, and they shall be his people, and he will dwell among
you, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.
The LORD will possess Judah as his portion in the holy land, and he
will again choose Jerusalem. Silence, all mankind, in the presence
of the LORD! For he stirs forth from his holy dwelling.
LUKE 1:39-47
Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of
Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted
Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped
in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out
in a loud voice and said, "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? For at the moment the
sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped
for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by
the Lord would be fulfilled." And Mary said: "My soul proclaims
the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior."
REFLECTION
To most of us Our Lady of Guadalupe is just another Marian image,
but in Mexico she is part of the national consciousness. She is a
national symbol that speaks to all, Catholics and non-Catholics.
This is so because unlike other apparitions of Mary, Our Lady of
Guadalupe appeared as a Mexican/native American. Her physical
appearance had features that were symbolic in the native culture,
and this is why she became a very powerful image.
In the Aztec cosmology, for example, the sun and the moon are in
conflict because they are half-siblings. The sky god and the sky
goddess are the parents of the moon and the stars, but the sky god
had an affair with the earth goddess and they gave birth to the
sun. Thus the sun and the moon are like half-siblings who do not
get along and cannot stay together. This explains night and day.
Yet the Virgin of Guadalupe wears a pink dress decorated with
flowers, symbolizing the earth, and over it is a blue mantle with
stars. The earth and the stars are supposed to be in conflict, but
why are they together in the Virgin?
In that culture, bracelets are worn only by virgins, and a black
sash by pregnant women. Yet the Virgin wears both. She is a virgin
who is pregnant.
Finally, the Virgin has Aztec physical features, except for the
hands and fingers that are very long, like those of European women.
Our Lady of Guadalupe is a woman who reconciles opposites, resolves
conflicts, and brings unity. No wonder she became such a powerful
symbol in Mexico. In her all the conflicts in their culture melted
away, paving the way for one nation under God, with the intercession
of the Virgin.
Advent is a making present of the first coming of Jesus as a baby in
a manger, but it is also an anticipation of Christ's second coming,
when the Kingdom of God will become present in its fullness. At
that time, all conflicts will be resolved; love, mercy, and justice
shall reign supreme. No more war, no more politics, no more
hatred. Only love. Our Lady of Guadalupe reminds us of this
kingdom that is to come, but which is also our task. For wherever
there is selfless love, the kingdom is present.
May Advent be a time for us to help build the Kingdom of God,
wherever and whoever we are, whatever our circumstances in life.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray -
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
- for the good health for baby Luke.
- healings for Paula, Debbie, Cindy R, Peggy O, Rich M.
- In thanksgiving: Maria Alyssa Martina.
- for the personal intentions of Cha.
- for the continued and speedy recovery of Mike Torres.
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Benito King
- Wedding Anniversary: Al & Cita Concepcion
- for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our
prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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