Reflection for Wednesday, December 12, 2012: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
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Authors
Kalkowski, Marty
Issue Date
2012-12-12
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Essay
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en_US
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See below: The words of Pope John Paul II during his 1999 visit to the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. | |It's amazing to consider that God wants to join with us humans and that God desires us so much many of us can scarcely imagine it. In the reading from chapter two of Zechariah, we are told that God is coming to be with us and dwell with us! Many people are going to be joined to God, and so to each other. Who in their right mind would want to be with us fragile, bickering, divided, lost, greedy, and hurtful humans? The God who sees our goodness and giftedness despite our faults, and who sees beyond our dividedness can show us a vision of who we truly are and who we can become. | Back in grade school, when I looked at statues and pictures of Mary and was told of who she was, she seemed so far beyond us humans as to almost NOT be a human being herself. Yet the Mary that I have come to understand and look to as a role model in faith, as a 56 year old man who is married with children, is a woman who was very real. Mary chose to join herself to God and God's plan completely. I'm amazed at her openness and her willingness to say 'yes' to God and to step past her own fears and doubts. I am often paralyzed by my own doubts and fears, as those doubts and fears can bring me to a halt when I need to act. Mary is a real person role model for all of us who are trying to live our faith, follow Jesus, and share the Good News of God's salvation in Christ Jesus. | I've been married to Teresa, my wife, partner and best friend, for over 21 years. We had planned to have a family, and since both of us came from fairly large families, we just assumed we would be able to join in God's creative process and create children. After some years of infertility treatments and the diagnosis of 'unexplained infertility' from several doctors who did their best to help us, we chose to form our family through adoption. | I would not have chosen to form our family through adoption, and yet in being open to another way of forming a family, we have been blessed. Our teenage children are just as marvelous, independent, and challenging as any of our nieces and nephews. They are choosing who they are and who they will become, just as all of us choose the same every day. How will I follow Christ today, and how will I share the Good News that Jesus Christ is born? I am challenged daily to share this Good News in my family, with neighbors and friends, and even with those I don't know very well. | Along with Mary, we Christians are called to 'proclaim the greatness of God', even when we are doubtful of God's greatness or are unsure of God's plan. Just as Mary showed through Juan Diego that God cared and cares very much about all of us humans, we are called to show in our lives that God cares and God is present. Maybe we can bring in some food for the needy, share an extra coat, or simply listen to someone today. That may be the only indication that person or persons have of God's presence in our world or God's care for them. | Today let's all testify with our words and actions that God is a God of love, mercy, compassion and forgiveness. May our actions lead us and others to truly rejoice in our God who saves us from despair. | |HOMILY OF JOHN PAUL II |Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City, Saturday, 23 January 1999 | Dear brothers and sisters, the time has come to banish once and for all from the continent every attack against life. No more violence, terrorism and drug-trafficking! No more torture or other forms of abuse! There must be an end to the unnecessary recourse to the death penalty! No more exploitation of the weak, racial discrimination or ghettoes of poverty! Never again! These are intolerable evils which cry out to heaven and call Christians to a different way of living, to a social commitment more in keeping with their faith. We must rouse the consciences of men and women with the Gospel, in order to highlight their sublime vocation as children of God. This will inspire them to build a better America. As a matter of urgency, we must stir up a new springtime of holiness on the continent so that action and contemplation will go hand in hand. | I wish to entrust and offer the future of the continent to Blessed Mary, Mother of Christ and of the Church. For this reason, I have the joy now of announcing that I have declared that on 12 December Our Lady of Guadalupe faith of our brothers and sisters, so that in all areas of social, professional, cultural and political life they may act in accord with the truth and the new law which Jesus brought to humanity. Look with mercy on the distress of those suffering from hunger, loneliness, rejection or ignorance. Make us recognize them as your favourite children and give us the fervent charity to help them in their needs. | Holy Virgin of Guadalupe, Queen of Peace! Save the nations and peoples of this continent. Teach everyone, political leaders and citizens, to live in true freedom and to act according to the requirements of justice and respect for human rights, so that peace may thus be established once and for all. | To you, O Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, belong all the love, honour, glory and endless praise of your American sons and daughters!
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University Ministry, Creighton University.
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These reflections may not be sold or used commercially without permission. Personal or parish use is permitted.
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Lectionary number: 690A