[Salvation]

Monday, December 12

Our Lady of Guadalupe

God in the Details

When the Aztecs first saw the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe they were struck by its beauty. The blue-green color on Our Lady’s mantle was immediately attractive, since this color would usually fade easily but remains ever bright on this image. The sunburst surrounding the image spoke of its grandeur and mysterious importance. The beautiful and tender face of Our Lady would have been inviting in a warm and personal way.

If the Aztecs got up very close to the image, they would see an extremely small cross on the collar of Our Lady’s garment. This small cross told them that the God that this beautiful Lady worshiped and invited all to know was the God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Without noticing this small cross the image would merely be a beautiful curiosity. Instead, the small, easily unnoticed cross changed the lives of millions of Aztecs who were no longer enslaved to fearsome false gods; they had discovered that God is a Father.

Let us pray to Our Lady of Guadalupe that in this season of Advent we may not be enslaved by the gods of consumerism and to our own ideas about the way we think things should be.

Let us ask that the gift and tradition of Advent and Christmas will bring us close enough to see Jesus, whose love and presence continues to free us.

Reflection based on Luke 1:26-38
Father Richard Veras

Loving Father, make me aware of the mercy you offer us through the Son of Mary in every detail and circumstance of my life.

[Salvation]

And here is the picture of that tiny cross:

If it disappears, I will post the link.