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Theme: The Church in its plenitude is expressed in Our Lady.
The issue addressed:
To enliven hope in the future as being in God's hands, rather than being
crushed by the negative aspects of our time.
Object: To enkindle the hope in the future with the assurance that
we are in the providential hands of God.
Scripture readings:
From the Feast of the Immaculate Conception: Gen.3:9-15.20; Eph.1:3-6.11-12; Ps.98; Lk.1:26-38
Symbols in this context: Our Lady, (standing, without a mask, her way of looking with her head slightly inclined, speaking on the same level as Juan Diego); her blue-green mantle (the royal color of the 'gods', and of Ometeotl, the origin of all the natural forces in the universe; also meaning the power that unifies the tensions existent in the world). The meaning of the stars on the mantle (the beginning of a new age); the sun and moon in this context.
Theme developed: The
Holy Spirit forges the reign of God through the people of God, who are
the Church, and who's plenitude is expressed in Our Lady.
History is full of situations, in which everything seemed lost, and
that everything was about to come to an end, due to sin reigning in humanity.
Who would believe that a Moses could take out the enslaved Israelites from
Egypt, or that David, the shepherd boy could defeat the giant Goliath with
all his armor on, or that Judith could defeat an army alone backed up by
prayer, fasting and faith in God. Who would believe that Christ would rise
after the apparent victory of his enemies? Who would believe that the Aztec
people, practically exterminated, would survive after the apparition of
the Virgin of Guadalupe. Symbolically, how is it possible that roses grow
in the middle of winter on the hill of Tepeyac, or that the image of the
Virgin remain imprinted on the 'tilma' (cloak) of Juan Diego? How could
it remain intact after four centuries, despite the material of the 'tilma'
being made from the 'maguey' (cactus) fiber, which is not supposed
to last very long?
If we look at the world situation, with its serious social, economic
and ecological problems, it seems that there is no hope for the future.
The scarcity of religious and priestly vocations in many parts of the world
and the internal problems of the Church don't look hopeful either. But
we must believe that the Lord from the cross has triumphed, and that the
Virgin with all her beauty and splendor is a triumphant sign of the plenitude
of God reign in the future. What looks impossible today, will be transformed
by the powerful hand of God, into the reality of future salvation. Even
the negative can be changed by God. Was not the crucifixion of Jesus, which
was the most horrendous thing that could be done to the Anointed of God,
transformed into the instrument of salvation and victory?
Let us think of the impossible situations in our lives. There is always
a door open where another is closed, or what seems a closed door today,
may in fact be a veiled open door to the future. Let us remember this interesting
saying: "If today you believe what you don't understand, tomorrow you will
understand what today you believe." Let us therefore carry on walking in
hope, as we keep the image of Guadalupe with its many symbols before
our minds, reminding us of what the plenitude of the reign is like. We
are that darkened moon, a people in sin, accompanied by Mary, who as a
loving mother anguishes with her people. We see Christ, who rises as the
sun of salvation, dissipating the darkness of sin. He lifts the people
up from the low position he finds them in, and makes them a holy people,
with Mary as their most perfect expression. We are one with her. We see
there the bride of Christ clothed in the colors of the royalty of the Nahua's
gods. For them, the clothing, with signs and symbols, corresponded to the
gods, and to important people. They showed who they were and what they
represented. (Siller Acuña-1981/1989: 65). The stars spoke to the
Nahuas of a new age. In the light of the biblical tradition, we might visualize
them as the outstanding figures in Christ's reign, shining on that royal
mantle of the Virgin, who symbolizes the reign. It is like the lights
on a Christmas tree. At Christmas we will celebrate the arrival of the
reign. The attitudes expected of those who belong to the reign are also
expressed in the image. We remember the posture of Mary who is standing
and unmasked; this brings her close to her people. She, though important,
empowers people with her loving presence, giving them a sense of worth.
She is there among the poor, the oppressed, which shows where the preferential
option of God's revelation is found, and through whom God mediates salvation.
"Her presence is the new power of the powerless to triumph over the violence
of the powerful." (Elizondo-1978: 135) It is a power that brings opposing
and conflicting forces together to form one people: this is symbolized
in the blue-green mantle as understood by the Mexicas. (Elizondo-1989:
129).
Our Lady of Guadalupe stands out clearly, then, as an ideal for the
Church of Christ fully expressed in her (Puebla-1979: #282). Through 'her'
(Mary/Church), Christ is gradually bringing about the reign. For
a person of faith therefore, there is no reason to be absorbed in pessimism
due to the sinfulness present in our world. We ought to be confident that
the 'dark moon will be transformed into a radiant beautiful bride'. An
example or two could be given, where a sinful situation is transformed
into a vehicle of salvation. The crucifixion of Jesus though, which leads
to resurrection, will always be the beacon to enlighten any sinful experience
transformed by the grace of God.
Questions: Do we keep alive in us the future hope for the plenitude of the reign of Christ, or do we allow ourselves to get depressed or to fall into despair?
Prayers of the Faithful for the Sixth Day of the Novena:
Let us now present our petitions to the Lord responding: Lord, hear
our prayer.
1. So that the Holy Spirit may hold us firm in hope when things are
not doing too well, and when all solutions to problems seem impossible.
Let us pray to the Lord.
2. So that all those who live in critical situations may be rescued
by the Lord and may be led to find solutions to their problems. Let us
pray to the Lord.
3. So that God through the intercession of the Virgin touch the hearts
of the most hardened sinners so that they may be converted to the Lord.
Let us pray to the Lord.
4. So that the Church may be more and more like the Virgin in its way
of thinking, speaking and acting. Let us pray to the Lord.
5. So that our deceased brothers and sisters find in God forgiveness
for their sins and the gift of the resurrection to life everlasting. Let
us pray to the Lord.
Let us pray:
Good and compassionate God, hear the prayers that today we present
to you, and through the intercession of the Immaculate virgin Mary, may
we keep alive in our lives, faith, hope and charity, even when all things
are not going too well. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.