He Has Raised Up The Poor and Lowly

When Mary appeared to the poor farmer, Juan Diego, on December 9, 1531, she did not give him any profound theological exhortation, but simply asked that a chapel be built there on Tepeyac mountain in her honor.  When the Bishop asked for "proof", again it was not a theological tract that she gave him, but roses in December and a miraculous image of herself with all the components needed to define who she was. Today as the universal church celebrates Our Lady of Guadalupe, literally millions will be walking in pilgrimage, not only in Mexico City, where the miraculous image is enshrined, but also in the Philippines, other Latino countries, and even in our own Los Angeles.  Mary came as a native of the region, brown-skinned and speaking their language, signs that she was a woman of the people, especially the poor and lowly.  It is they who have remained faithful for nearly 500 years;  it is they who will show their unabashed love by way of banners, flowers, real, plastic and paper, songs and prayers as they march in her honor. She showed that she is their for them (us) and they have no shame in showing that they are there for her.  As she regarded her lowly self as favored by God her Savior, she reminds us all that he has lifted up us, the lowly as well.  Our Lady of Guadalupe, we love you.  Thank you for looking at us in our lowliness and inviting us to be raised up into the arms of your Son, Jesus.  Amen.
Bro. Rene