Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and his throne. The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed.”

Mary is the mother of our salvation. She is our Blessed Mother and Most Holy Mediator between God and us. She shows us through her Most Immaculate Life how to know, love, and serve God with all our hearts and minds. It was through her humble acceptance of God's Will that God's Saving Power, namely Jesus, came into the world. Her mildness gave birth to the greatest authority of all… the Son of God! This doesn't mean her life wasn't hard. Far from it! She ran into difficulties from the very first moment she accepted the angel's annunciation. However, she did not let her fears, anxieties, and problems keep her from doing God's Will. She found a way to overcome all the obstacles in her way and became the Most Faithful Servant of All. In the same way, we are called to become living vessels of God's Will no matter what stands in our way.

What are we giving birth to in this world? Are we imitating Mary's trust, love, humility, and mildness in our own lives? Do we turn to Mary and her beloved Son, Jesus, when we are trying to be good vessels of God's Love, Mercy, and Grace?

O Lord, may your salvation and power come into the world through us as it did through Mary?

Amen.