A Simple Message

St. Juan Diego, an indigenous native of Mexico was baptized at the age of 50 and six years later in 1531, was chosen by Mary to go to the bishop and ask that a Church be built on Tepeyac, a small mountain,  in her honor.  He felt he was "not important" enough to go to the bishop and that Mary should choose another.  She insisted on him.  The bishop asked for a sign but on the day appointed to receive it, Juan went to see his uncle who was ill instead.  Mary caught up with him, assured him that the uncle was cured, and sent him to the hill where he found roses blooming in December.  We know the story of the miraculous image that appeared on the tilma, a more spectacular miracle than the December roses. For the rest of his life, Juan remained the guardian of the image in the church that was built at Mary's request.
Not a spectacular life, yet Juan's fidelity to a simple request, gives us the simple message, similar to the one Mary uttered at Cana:  "Do whatever he tells you." (Jn 2:5)
Bro. Rene