Word to the Wise
Friday, December 12, 2014 - 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]"Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the Lord." [Zechariah]
A few days ago, we celebrated the feast of the Immaculate Conception, which focused on Mary's part in the plan of salvation as cooperating with God in the Incarnation. Now we celebrate Mary's role as representing God's providential care for all peoples, especially the poor and oppressed. She represents hope in the season of hope as the pregnant Mestizo woman who appeared to St. Juan Diego in Mexico.
There is no question that this feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is more widely celebrated in the U.S.A. and elsewhere, especially where there are Mexican people, than the feast of the Immaculate Conception. As a pastor I could see the difference in the number of people, and experience the early morning celebration of "Las Mananitas," and other traditional rituals connected with the feast. It is a much more "down to earth" celebration. Zechariah's words from one of the possible first scriptures of the feast really captures the essence of the occasion. It is a recognition that God has not abandoned God's people but comes in many ways to dwell with them. This is, of course, best realized in the birth of Jesus, which seems proclaimed in the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe as a pregnant woman. She moves us forward in hope. AMEN