Additional Information about Our Lady of Guadalupe[1]
Readings for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe [2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Zechariah 2:14-17
This first selection from the Book of the Prophet Zechariah once more predicts the coming of the Messiah. It provides a rather unique glimpse at the messianic expectation – He comes to unify and security to the faithful. This passage also demonstrates the “true man, true God” essence of the Lord; “Silence, all mankind, in the presence of the Lord! For he stirs forth from his holy dwelling.”
Or Revelations 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab
Here we are given the passage from John’s Book of Revelations that provides a symbol of Mary who is Queen of Heaven. In the passage the eschatological symbolism shows Mary giving birth to her son, Jesus. It also depicts Satan who, knowing the nature of the Lord, puts forces in motion to destroy the child.
Responsorial Psalm Judith 13:18bcde, 19
R. You are the highest honor of our race.
This short hymn of praise from Judith is predictive of the blessed role Mary will play in human salvation.
Gospel Luke 1:26-38
The footnote from the New American Bible on this particular passage gives us a lot to think about: “The announcement to Mary of the birth of Jesus is parallel to the announcement to Zechariah of the birth of John. In both the angel Gabriel appears to the parent who is troubled by the vision (Luke 1:11-12, 26-29) and then told by the angel not to fear (Luke 1:13, 30). After the announcement is made (Luke 1:14-17, 31-33) the parent objects (Luke 1:18, 34) and a sign is given to confirm the announcement (Luke 1:20, 36). The particular focus of the announcement of the birth of Jesus is on his identity as Son of David (Luke 1:32-33) and Son of God (Luke 1:32, 35).”On this Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the reaction of Mary to this announcement is particularly important in that she gives her humble consent, know the potential consequences of her act include her own death.
Or Luke 1:39-47
The story of Mary’s meeting with Elizabeth following the annunciation by Gabriel that she would carry the Son of God proclaims the coming of the Lord and the faith of Mary before the nativity event. We note that Elizabeth is first to identify Jesus as Lord as she says” …how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” She not only professes the identity of the infant but foreshadows Mary’s leadership standing, elevating the stature of her much younger cousin with reverence. Elizabeth continues her praise of Mary by establishing that her (Mary’s) faith had allowed her to accept even the incredible role God had offered her.
In response we hear Mary’s humility as she begins with the opening verse of the Magnificat “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”
Reflection:
The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe gives us the opportunity once more to prayerfully consider the role of Mary, the Mother of God in Christ, her Son’s, mission. We recall the story of how she came to Juan Diego as he reached the base of the hill known as Tepeyac that first time the Holy Mother came to him. We see in her the apostolate to which we are all called. She points steadfastly at her Son, infusing those who hear her voice with the love of God.
In this Advent season when scripture so urgently points us to the Kingdom of God, the kingdom to come (“Thy kingdom come”), the first saint, the Queen of Heaven, points the way to that end. She is not only the herald of things to come, but provides us with an attitude of humility and obedience to God’s will that opens the door to our own possibilities as servants of Christ.
In the second Gospel option, we hear Mary respond to the praise of Elizabeth who says what we feel, “Mary you are so full of grace, so exalted among all humanity how can we even come to you?” And how does the Mother of God respond as her elder holds her up and places her above all humanity? She begins with an abject and profound statement of love and faith in God. She fairly sings her tremendous love for Him “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord” Her very being is dedicated to the Father “My spirit rejoices in God my savior.”
She refuses the crown on earth, but instead professes her obedience to the one God and to His will that she be the vessel of His greatest gift. Perhaps it is because she was free from original sin that she could so perfectly respond to God and later to her cousin. Whatever the reason, she is the model of faith to which we all subscribe and attempt to emulate. We thank God for placing her active witness among us, a constant reminder of the great love Her Son has for us. She faithfully points us to the Advent of our Lord and we pray our response to Him, when he comes again, will be as faithful as the one we see in His Mother
Pax.
[1] All written narrations about the apparitions of the Lady of Guadalupe are inspired by the Nican Mopohua, or Huei Tlamahuitzoltica, written in Nahuatl, the Aztec language, by the Indian scholar Antonio Valeriano around the middle of the sixteenth century. Unfortunately the original of his work has not been found. A copy was first published in Nahuatl by Luis Lasso de la Vega in 1649. The picture above is the cover of that publication.
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
Readings for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe [2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Zechariah 2:14-17
This first selection from the Book of the Prophet Zechariah once more predicts the coming of the Messiah. It provides a rather unique glimpse at the messianic expectation – He comes to unify and security to the faithful. This passage also demonstrates the “true man, true God” essence of the Lord; “Silence, all mankind, in the presence of the Lord! For he stirs forth from his holy dwelling.”
Or Revelations 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab
Here we are given the passage from John’s Book of Revelations that provides a symbol of Mary who is Queen of Heaven. In the passage the eschatological symbolism shows Mary giving birth to her son, Jesus. It also depicts Satan who, knowing the nature of the Lord, puts forces in motion to destroy the child.
Responsorial Psalm Judith 13:18bcde, 19
R. You are the highest honor of our race.
This short hymn of praise from Judith is predictive of the blessed role Mary will play in human salvation.
Gospel Luke 1:26-38
The footnote from the New American Bible on this particular passage gives us a lot to think about: “The announcement to Mary of the birth of Jesus is parallel to the announcement to Zechariah of the birth of John. In both the angel Gabriel appears to the parent who is troubled by the vision (Luke 1:11-12, 26-29) and then told by the angel not to fear (Luke 1:13, 30). After the announcement is made (Luke 1:14-17, 31-33) the parent objects (Luke 1:18, 34) and a sign is given to confirm the announcement (Luke 1:20, 36). The particular focus of the announcement of the birth of Jesus is on his identity as Son of David (Luke 1:32-33) and Son of God (Luke 1:32, 35).”On this Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the reaction of Mary to this announcement is particularly important in that she gives her humble consent, know the potential consequences of her act include her own death.
Or Luke 1:39-47
The story of Mary’s meeting with Elizabeth following the annunciation by Gabriel that she would carry the Son of God proclaims the coming of the Lord and the faith of Mary before the nativity event. We note that Elizabeth is first to identify Jesus as Lord as she says” …how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” She not only professes the identity of the infant but foreshadows Mary’s leadership standing, elevating the stature of her much younger cousin with reverence. Elizabeth continues her praise of Mary by establishing that her (Mary’s) faith had allowed her to accept even the incredible role God had offered her.
In response we hear Mary’s humility as she begins with the opening verse of the Magnificat “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”
Reflection:
The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe gives us the opportunity once more to prayerfully consider the role of Mary, the Mother of God in Christ, her Son’s, mission. We recall the story of how she came to Juan Diego as he reached the base of the hill known as Tepeyac that first time the Holy Mother came to him. We see in her the apostolate to which we are all called. She points steadfastly at her Son, infusing those who hear her voice with the love of God.
In this Advent season when scripture so urgently points us to the Kingdom of God, the kingdom to come (“Thy kingdom come”), the first saint, the Queen of Heaven, points the way to that end. She is not only the herald of things to come, but provides us with an attitude of humility and obedience to God’s will that opens the door to our own possibilities as servants of Christ.
In the second Gospel option, we hear Mary respond to the praise of Elizabeth who says what we feel, “Mary you are so full of grace, so exalted among all humanity how can we even come to you?” And how does the Mother of God respond as her elder holds her up and places her above all humanity? She begins with an abject and profound statement of love and faith in God. She fairly sings her tremendous love for Him “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord” Her very being is dedicated to the Father “My spirit rejoices in God my savior.”
She refuses the crown on earth, but instead professes her obedience to the one God and to His will that she be the vessel of His greatest gift. Perhaps it is because she was free from original sin that she could so perfectly respond to God and later to her cousin. Whatever the reason, she is the model of faith to which we all subscribe and attempt to emulate. We thank God for placing her active witness among us, a constant reminder of the great love Her Son has for us. She faithfully points us to the Advent of our Lord and we pray our response to Him, when he comes again, will be as faithful as the one we see in His Mother
Pax.
[1] All written narrations about the apparitions of the Lady of Guadalupe are inspired by the Nican Mopohua, or Huei Tlamahuitzoltica, written in Nahuatl, the Aztec language, by the Indian scholar Antonio Valeriano around the middle of the sixteenth century. Unfortunately the original of his work has not been found. A copy was first published in Nahuatl by Luis Lasso de la Vega in 1649. The picture above is the cover of that publication.
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
No comments:
Post a Comment