Reflection for December 12
Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas. Her miraculous image has guided so many of us in envisioning our Blessed Mother. Especially among those of Mexican heritage, la Guadalupana is an indispensable sign of faith, culture, and identity.
The Church offers us two options for today’s gospel: the Annunciation, and the Visitation. In Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel and in her meeting with Elizabeth, we see wonder and faith, joy and compassion – and we see all these together in Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Wonder, in Mary pondering the angel’s words – “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” – and in the stars of her mantle, mapping the night sky over Mexico on the day of the apparition. Faith, in the paradox that Mary voiced – “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” – and that the image embodies, with center-parted hair indicative of virginity in Aztec culture, and tasseled sash, emblematic of pregnancy. Joy – in the womb of Elizabeth: “For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy,” and in the heart of Juan Diego: his heart was not disturbed and he felt extremely happy and contented, as recounted in the Nican Mopohua, the Indigenous-language source document of the Guadalupe narrative. Compassion, in Mary’s haste in coming to the aid of Elizabeth, and in the beautiful words addressed to Juan Diego: “Am I not here, I, who am your mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not the source of your joy? Are you not in the hollow of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? Do you need something more?”
Cuix amo nican nica nimonantzin? Am I not here, I, who am your mother? —let us bring these words with us, on our way to Christmas.
Paul Chu