12 December 2017
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
“Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! …Silence, all mankind, in the presence of the Lord!” (Zechariah 2:14, 17)
In this week of considering John the Precursor, as we ask for the grace to faithfully proclaim the coming of the Lord, we also consider the person of Mary. She to whom the Lord sent His Angel to announce most fully His coming! As we look to Mary, we see the one who shows that in order to proclaim well, we must also be humble and silent before the Lord when He speaks to us. In order to know what we are to proclaim we must hear the word of God! No one is a better model of that than She who listened to the words “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you!” (Lk 1:35) No one shows us more clearly how to respond to the Lord than she who replied, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Lk 1:38)
Mary, too, accompanies us and sends to proclaim the mercies of the Lord! As she appeared to St. Juan Diego, comforted him with her motherly presence, she also sent him with a message that would lead literally millions over the centuries into greater union with Her Son. Let us take time in silence with the Lord. Let us pay attention to the ways in which He is coming to labor in our lives, and so lay a good foundation for proclaiming His coming to those around us.