Daily Thoughts: Today’s Gospel (Luke 1:39-47) reminds us that Mary was truly a believer. Even
though she did not know the full extent of her “yes” she proclaimed it anyway.
She trusted in God. It was a trust that could be seen. Elizabeth saw it as Mary
entered her home. For Elizabeth, Mary was blessed among women and her voice
proclaimed the presence of God even to the baby in Elizabeth’s womb. Our God is
not only of God of sight but also of sound.
Not having a clear vision of the road ahead is not always an
easy way to life. It demands trust, it demands faith, and it demands a sense of
hope in all that one does. Mary certain defines this way of living. She did not
know the implications of her “yes” but she has trust, faith and lived by an
unrelenting hope.
As Calvin Miller puts it in his book The Christ of
Christmas: Readings for Advent – “We must look to Mary's example to know how to
deal with the glorious impossibilities of God. Look how she turned the world
upside down by making one simple statement.”
Today we remember that Mary turned the New World upside down
when she appeared to Juan Diego, an Aztec Indian convert, as a beautiful young
woman on Tepeyac Hill near Mexico City on December 9, 1531. Just another
reminder that if we trust, if we believe, if we live by hope we will encounter
God most often when we least expect it but always when we are most in need!
Have a great Saturday everyone!
Daily Prayer: Come loving God, come – come and make your
dwelling in our hearts. Come and be present to the struggling, difficult and
challenging moments of our day. Come in your unexpected ways and fill us with a
hope that will always help us to trust and have faith that you are always with
us and you will never leave us to face the struggles and challenges of life
alone. Come loving God, come and be with us today and like Mary may we always
say “yes” - Amen!
A Runner’s Thoughts: As we prepare to run today or any day, as
we stretch our muscles getting them ready for the journey ahead. Let us imagine
that we are also stretching our spirits and giving our spirits the flexibility
needed to encounter God. Each time we take the time to stretch we are also
taking the time to pray!
Daily Blessing: Saturday greetings and blessings to all. I hope
today has gotten off to a good start for you. The day is just starting here in
Pelham and we are to have another mild day with sun and clouds just like
yesterday. I hope your Saturday will be blessed with good weather and some rest
and relaxation.
We celebrate the feast today of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It
remembers the appearance of Mary to Juan Diego, a poor Aztec Indian convert, as
a beautiful young mestiza woman on Tepeyac Hill near Mexico City on December 9,
1531. It is a special day of celebration for all our sisters and brothers of
Central, South America and here in North America too.
With this feast in mind I ask God’s blessings upon all of us
today through the intersession of Mary. May God bless us all today with the
wonderful grace of trust, faith and hope that was so present in the life of
Mary. May this day be one in which we focus our life, strive to be the best we
can, persevere through the struggles and challenges and always take a little
time to connect with God through prayer. – Loving God bless us with the
richness of your love wherever we go and through whomever we meet. And may we
always say “yes” when you ask us to bring your presence to the world. We ask
this blessing through your gift of Mary. Amen! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr.
Paul