Wednesday, The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
(Luke 1:39-48) – an alternate reading
It is no secret that most women want to have children. Although it is a small embarrassment, it is also true that women prefer to have male children. So Elizabeth’s greeting Mary with the words, “Most blessed are you,” should not be unexpected. Of course, only an inspired woman could have interpreted the jumping of the baby in her womb as the recognition of the presence of the Messiah in the womb of another. God has indeed blessed Mary enormously, but this fact alone does not make her what we believe her to be.
Later on in the gospel a woman calls out to Jesus, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” Jesus’ replies significantly, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it” (Luke 11:27-28). Jesus is not slighting his mother here. He knows better than anyone how Mary has always acted graciously on God’s word. For this reason she hurries to visit her kinswoman Elizabeth when the angel informs her that the latter is with child. The inspired Elizabeth recognizes this truth as well when she tells Mary, “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
We find Mary acting on the word of God when she meets the Indian Juan Diego hurrying to mass in Mexico City. The Virgin orders Juan Diego to tell the bishop that a church must be built on the site outside the city. Mary is displaying God’s love for the poor, defeated Indians by conveying the mandate that their conquerors assist the native people where they live. In the gospel reading, Mary praises God for this same compassion when she responds to Elizabeth, “...He has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness.”
Poverty, experts say, is relative. Today’s poor, usually with food sufficiency, are better off and fewer in proportion than the poor of a century ago. Also, even the wealthy sometimes are worrisome and miserable – qualities that we associate with destitution. Having desires that leap past our means, we are all poor in a way. It is precisely here that God shows His compassion. He sends His son Jesus Christ not just to share our human nature but to lift us up to His divine one. Guadalupe’s message to Juan is meant for all of us. God loves us and acts to meet our needs.
