Word to the Wise
Monday, December 12, 2016 - Dec. 12 - Our Lady of Guadalupe
[Zech 2:14-17, or Rev 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab and Luke 1:26-38, or Luke 1:39-47,1352]"And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" [Luke]
The pastoral contrast between this feast day and that of the Immaculate Conception four days ago could not be more stark when one compares church attendance in the U.S.A. on those two days. The feast of the Immaculate Conception is a holyday of obligation because under that title Mary is the patroness of the United States of America. Attendance, at least in communities with large numbers of Latino parishioners, will be small on December 8th. On December 12th, this feast day, which is not a holyday of obligation, churches will be full. The only day in the year that rivals it (and is also NOT a holy day of obligation) is Ash Wednesday! How does one explain this? In my own opinion the explanation may be, in part, contained in Elizabeth's question: "And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"
The feast of the Immaculate Conception is really about Mary in herself. The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is about how Mary cares for us. It is that pastoral, maternal concern, so strongly displayed in the story, and the image that appears everywhere, that comes through and motivates the response in the hearts of people. We can all ask Elizabeth's question. After listening for nearly two years to impassioned rhetoric about building a wall to keep immigrants from Mexico, Central America and South America out of the country (but not one for Canada?), one could hardly blame anyone for wondering if the wall-builders think they can exclude Our Lady of Guadalupe too? No way! Ultimately there is a cultural bridge in her that will transcend that wall. This bridge crosses not only physical walls, but cultural and social walls that divide us. The rich and poor, the free and oppressed come under her gaze from that image. That is what brings people to celebrate. How do we answer Elizabeth's question? AMEN
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