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Eighth Day
Theme: In the reign of Christ, God forgives, consoles, purifies, heals, and reanimates us through the maternal words of Our Lady.
The issue addressed: The need for mutual forgiveness, healing, support and encouragement.
Object: To bring spiritual relief, interior peace and renewed confidence to afflicted, suffered and depressed hearts.
Scripture readings:
Ez.34: 11-16. 28-31; Ps.34 or Ps.147; Lk.6:20-26
Alleluia: Alleluia. Alleluia. Come, Lord, bring us your peace; let us rejoice before you with a perfect heart. Alleluia.
Adapted reading from the Nican Mopohva (7:5-6.11-15):
Symbols in this context: Blue-green mantle for peace, the rose garment for life and love, the sun rays for joy. Hands that offer, a face of empathy. The renewing message of Our Lady to Juan Diego.Juan Diego bowed himself before the Lady; he greeted her and said: "O my dearest Lady, the most forsaken one, I hope you are happy. How are you this morning? I am going to cause you affliction. You know, my Lady, that a poor servant of yours is very ill, my uncle. He is afflicted with the pestilence and is about to die."
After hearing Juan Diego's address, the most merciful Virgin responded: "Listen and understand, my son the most forsaken one. There is nothing to worry or be frightened about, nor should your heart be perturbed. Do not fear that sickness, or any other or any anxiety. Am I not here, who am your Mother? Are you not under my all encompassing shadow? Am I not the source of your life? Are you not in the hollow of my mantle, where the arms cross? Who else do you need? Let nothing afflict or make you bitter: do not be upset over the illness of your uncle. He will not die now from what he has now. Be assured that I will heal him." (And it was indeed just then that his uncle did heal, as was later known).
Theme developed:
God is moved to compassion when confronted with our weakness', afflictions
and problems. These may be personal, or concerning our life in relation
to our family, our society or our work place.
One of the most common ways to approach God is seeking help. Often,
we do this through Mary who, as a good mother, listens attentively to our
prayers. How often a person turns to their mother when s/he needs help,
or may approach her so that she intercedes for him/her before their father?
Though it is not necessary when we approach God, often we feel more comfortable
to approach God through Mary.
People have always turned to God for help and consolation. Many psalms,
like the one we just heard today, show this. We see how Christ responds
with mercy to human misery. We even see Jesus moved to tears, when he foresees
the future destruction of Jerusalem, or when he hears that his friend Lazarus
had died. Never does he remain indifferent before a cry for mercy. He cures
the blind, the deaf, the paralyzed, the sick, and gives back joy and peace
to the afflicted and anguished heart. Jesus presents himself as the Good
Shepherd (Jn.10), who leads his sheep to pasture, and to the quiet waters
(Ps.23). He knows every one by name, and even gives his life for them.
He rescues the one that goes astray. He heals those who get hurt (Ez.34).
Shrines of all the world are full of offerings that people leave in thanksgiving
to God for some favor received. More than anything, people regain peace
and inner strength to face the struggles of life, even when external circumstances
may not change for many.
This same maternal love of God reaches us though God's mother in Guadalupe,
in the words we heard directed to Juan Diego, and, in the following passage:
"I deeply want a temple built here for me, so that in it, I may show
and bestow all my love, compassion, aid, and protection. For I am indeed
your merciful mother; yours, and all your fellow-dwellers in this land,
and my other loved ones, who plead with me and confide in me: that I may
hear in it their grief, and mend all their miseries, pains, and afflictions."
(NM 2: 2-26)
Juan Diego and his people had a lot to endure in those times.
God, through the Virgin, mercifully rescued the people from extermination.
How often, a standard of the Virgin of Guadalupe has gone before the Mexican
people as they confronted the oppressive leadership which generated so
much suffering? The beatitudes that we hear in the Gospel are proof of
how God reaches out in defense of the oppressed poor, and condemns the
malice of the rich who oppress the poor. The Virgin of Guadalupe offers
us the Son of her womb, as the best remedy for our ills. The folded hands
for the Aztecs were a sign of offering. Westerners who see these
hands of one in prayer, we see her as interceding to God for our happiness.
Psychologists tell us that blue and green are colors which help people
become calm. They are peaceful colors. Red stimulates and revitalizes one.
It helps move people to action in love. The rays of light bring us joy.
All of us know that God is our refuge. I am sure that each of
us can tell of the marvels that God has done for them in their life. However,
it is important that each person learns to be responsible before the needs
of others. Christ calls all of us to be merciful. That is part of being
Christian. Perhaps we will not produce an outstanding miracle, but God
can do wonders through us, especially in bringing relief to hearts that
anguish, are disorientated, lonely and desperate. How many people around
you feel rejected, abandoned, alone? If you want happiness and peace for
your own heart, start by concerning yourselves for other, and you will
notice the difference in your life.
Questions: Do we support each other on the painful journey of life, sharing our compassion, forgiveness, encouragement? As we expect from God, do we offer ourselves to others?
Prayers of the Faithful for the Eighth Day of the Novena:
Let us now present our petitions to the Lord responding: Lord, hear our prayer.
1. So that Christ, through the Holy Spirit, forgive us our sins, heal
the wounds opened by our sins, and strengthen us, so that we may walk in
the spirit of the reign of Christ. Let us pray to the Lord.
2. So that, inspired by the maternal love of Mary, and the compassionate
heart of Jesus, we may feel impelled to reach out to encounter other people
in their pain. Let us pray to the Lord.
3. So that all may find in the Church, a precinct of compassionate
love, and that our leaders, may have the attitude of the Good Shepherd.
Let us pray to the Lord.
4. So that the powers of this world may place human and communitarian
interests in first place, especially those who most need support from others.
Let us pray to the Lord.
5. So that our sisters and brothers who have not had the occasion of
encountering a God rich in compassion, may finally experience God's presence
in their lives. Let us pray to the Lord.
Let us pray:
Compassionate God, and full of love, hear the prayers that today we
present to you. We thank you for the times that you have shown us your
merciful love experienced in different ways. May all of us have a heart
so compassionate that others may see in us the love you have for us, as
has been taught to us through our mother Mary. We ask this through Christ
Our Lord. Amen.