Thursday, December 12, 2002
Our Lady of Guadalupe

1st Reading: Zec 2:14-17

Gospel: Lk 1:39-45

Mary then set out for a town in the Hills of Judah. She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with holy spirit, and giving a loud cry, said, "You are most blessed among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb! How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me? The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby within me suddenly leapt for joy. Blessed are you who believed that the Lord's word would come true!"

Commentary

A Marian theme: for we are celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe, an indigenous Madonna, mother and sister of the common people. In the first reading, Zechariah proclaims "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for I come to dwell among you, says the Lord….Let all humankind be silent before God! For he is awakening and coming from his holy dwelling." Luke's narrative shows us just how unobtrusively God comes. No fanfare. God is at home with lowliness, ordinariness and simplicity. Which means that God is usually far too close to be noticed.

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