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Theme: The reign of Christ has universal characteristics.
The issue addressed: A ghetto mentality as opposed to being participants of the diversity within a universal spirit.
Object: To create awareness and firmly motivate an attitude of giving value to one's individual culture, and to be participant in the historical process by contributing to the universal spirit from one's diversity.
Scripture readings:
Rev.11:15-12:2; Ps.67; Lk.1:39-47
Alleluia: Alleluia. Alleluia. Come, King of all nations, source of your Church's unity and faith: save all people, your own creation! Alleluia.
Adapted reading from the Nican Mopohva (8:27.28):
In front of the bishop, Juan Diego unwrapped his white 'tilma', since he had the flowers in his lap; and so a variety of roses scattered on the floor. Suddenly, there appeared on the 'tilma', the precious image of the ever Virgin Holy MARY, Mother of God Teotl. This is the image that is kept today in her temple at Tepeyac, which is named Guadalupe.Symbols in this context:The 'mestiza' Virgin whom everyone can understand. Her face and eyes. The Mexican 'mestizo' people are also a symbol. The blue-green of the mantle, as indicative of one who can reconcile opposing forces.
Theme developed:
The historical challenge is a universal 'mestisaje'. The Hispanic people
have rights and duties in the United States of America Guadalupe represents
a Mexican responsibility before all the American Continent(s).
In all times, human beings have gathered within different ethnic groups,
with unique customs and cultural beliefs. The tendency has been, though,
that each group has looked with distrust at other groups due to lack of
sufficient social contact. One tends to distrust the unknown. The principal
task of Christ is to come to remedy this tower of Babel, which we have
constructed for ourselves. Our pride leads us to think that our culture
is the best. Ours is neither better nor worse just different. We
do not have the right in making others be like ourselves. Christ did not
come to annul differences, but that we might enrich ourselves mutually,
from the differences of each. Unity is not uniformity, but the enrichment
of the diversity that God places in each of us. These differences
should not contradict each other but complement each other. Dissonance
does not come from God but from the evil spirit that is reflected
in our pride. Christ and the early Church made the effort of reconciling
the differences between Jews, Greeks, Romans and Samaritans. Those who
felt marginalized, as were the lepers and public sinners in society, Christ
reintegrated into society.
The fundamental message of Guadalupe is not an exception. God, through
the Virgin with her maternal influence, has come to reunite diverse daughters
and sons into one people. The blue-green mantle could speak to the Aztecs
of this power that operates through Mary to unify the opposing tensions
at work in the world (Elizondo-1989: 129). The 'mestizo' Mexican, is a
sign of this union which God has left as a witness of the reign, in the
Americas that are one: America, a continent formed by many nations and
not just countries, from Alaska down to Tierra del Fuego.
I believe that the Virgin of Guadalupe, with the Mexican people, are
symbols of this union. The Virgin, because of her holiness, mirrors the
reign in its perfection. Both Aztecs, with the other Meso-american nations,
and Spaniards could identify her as one of them. That is true all over
the world. In Velankani, India, the Virgin is dressed in a 'sari', the
typical garment of Indian women, and she speaks to Hindu children in Tamil,
the local language of Velankani, in the state of Tamil Nadu. In Lourdes,
France, she speaks to a girl in French. In Mexico, she speaks to Juan Diego
in Nahuatl. Her desire to be a mother to all is reflected in her image,
especially in the face.
They say that the eyes are the window of the soul. The Aztecs also
gave great importance to the face, especially to the eyes. What is there
so special in the eyes of the Virgin of Guadalupe? I would say they are
the most extraordinary aspect of the whole image. The first surprising
thing is to notice that they are a light color, while the color of her
face could be identified as Amerindian or Mediterranean, while her hair
seems more Amerindian. The most striking thing, though, is found in the
eyes. With the help of computer technology in recent years, specialists
of our contemporary society have discovered with surprise, something which
for me has an important symbolic meaning. Reflected in the eyes are twelve
people, of different ethnic origins, people of both sexes, and of all ages.
Apart from Juan Diego, among other people are: the elderly Spanish bishop
Zumárraga and his Spanish interpreter. Also seen is María,
an African slave that lived in the house of the bishop. There is also a
young Indian couple with a child and a baby on the back of the mother,
who has refined features as if of noble Aztec background (Maussan-1991).
How appropriate for a mother who loves all human beings as her daughters
and sons, who mirrors the maternal and paternal love which God has for
us all!
Hispanics of the United States, the message of Guadalupe is clear.
I think that God, through the Virgin, missions you as she did Juan Diego,
to bring reconciliation between the different ethnic groups of this land.
Here is a wonderful opportunity to form a global, universal 'mestizo' family,
on which I think the future of our life on the planet depends. We are becoming
a global family, but it is our duty that there be a respectful integration
of all ethnic groups. This is a challenge, and an urgent task, because
the danger of global uniformity, without respect for the differences, is
already becoming a reality. One must not hold on to hispanicity, as if
it were the only thing of worth, which is a danger for the older generations.
Neither should one reject it with shame, which is a danger more for the
younger generations. These are human temptations in an insecure environment
where one does not feel accepted by the dominant society. One has to resist
firmly these two extremes.
The Virgin sends you as her missionaries. You have a unique richness
to contribute to this society. Do not be disillusioned by those who reject
you. You have Juan Diego as a model who did not hold back before difficulties
in making himself believed. As with Juan Diego, the Virgin gives
us a little 'push', so that we may be courageous in being her messengers.
'Animo' Hispanic people! The Lord and the 'Guadalupana' are with you! 'Que
viva la Virgen de Guadalupe!' Long live the Virgin of Guadalupe!
Questions: Do we have a heart sufficiently broad enough to embrace under the banner of Guadalupe, all ethnic groups especially those that surround us, including those from whom we have experienced some discrimination?
Prayers of the Faithful for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe:
Feeling united with all the Hispanic people, and united with all the Church extended throughout the world, let us present now our intentions. To each response we will say: listen, Lord, to you people.
1. For all the Church who admire and exult Mary as the most splendid
fruit of redemption, so that we will always be aware of our missionary
vocation, and may always irradiate the Light of Christ, as the moon that
reflects the light of the sun. Let us pray to the Lord.
2. For the Holy Father, the bishops, the priests and all the leaders
and prophets in the Church, so that, with their example and word, they
may be in the Church and in the world, like stars shining in the sky, just
like Juan Diego, the smallest of all Mary's children. Let us pray to the
Lord.
3. For the union of all Christians, that we may find better ways of
overcoming our differences, so that we may work together in the construction
of the reign of Christ. Let us pray to the Lord.
4. For our community in this part of our city, that the Virgin may
help us to overcome prejudices, discriminations, hatreds and violence between
different ethnic groups, between gangs, and even in the heart of our families.
Let us pray to the Lord.
5. For our youth and our children; for the elderly and sick; for the
most weak, defenseless and the poor: so that they may find in our Church,
in the example of Mary's maternal love, a home of welcoming love. Let us
pray to the Lord.
Let us pray:
In union with Mary, mother of the Church, we ask you Lord, full of Love, that your reign, may extend throughout the world. May it penetrate and transform all cultures, and one day, may there truly be a civilization of love. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.