Memorial of Saint
Juan Diego Cuanhtlatoatzin, holy man
(Isaiah 48:17-19; Matthew 11:16-19)
There is an old story about something wonderful having happened
in Bethlehem. The marvelous event was
the price of steel increasing two cents a pound. The Bethlehem referred to in this story is not
the place where Jesus was born, but Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, an old steel
town. The story demonstrates Jesus’ lesson
in today’s gospel.
Like the citizens of Bethlehem, the “generation” which
Jesus speaks of is oblivious to the presence of salvation among them. People of the generation have no more
appreciation of the holiness to which the prophets call them than bratty children
taunting one another. They refuse to be
moved either by ascetics like John or by more personable preachers like Jesus.
Today the Church remembers St. Juan Diego, the Mexican native
who served the Virgen of Guadalupe. He
was anything but oblivious to Jesus. A
fervent convert to Christianity, he only wanted to the Lord’s will as he
encountered the Blessed Mother. He
learned from her that God has plans for His people that sometimes differ from those
we judge correct. We must discern in
prayer and consultation what God is asking of us and then pursue it with all
our hearts.
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