NOTE: Throughout the Advent season, we’ll post reflections on the readings for Sundays and Holy Days in Advent. All reflections are archived on our Advent 2023 webpage.
The reflection below was written by Sr. Dianna Ortiz, OSU, Pax Christi USA Teacher of Peace for the 2012 Advent reflection booklet.
By Sr. Dianna Ortiz, OSU
Pax Christi USA Teacher of Peace
Zechariah 2:14-17 | Judith 13:18BCDE, 19 | Luke 1:39-47
MARY: THE REVOLUTIONARY PROMISE
And Mary said, “My soul proclaims the greatness of God;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” (Lk 1:47)
On this day, celebrated especially in the Americas, we remember the Mary who visited the humble peasant, Juan Diego, and ask again just who this woman is and what is her message for us today.
So often Mary is depicted on a throne of gold, looking down upon us. Her radiant glory obliterates even the stars in the sky. But is this truly the Mary who speaks to us today? When the angel first came to her, she sat on no throne. She was young, poor, and seemed no different from others around her. The angel’s glad message mentioned nothing of her impending homelessness, exile, or how she would bear witness to the torture and execution of her son. She was chosen not only to be the mother of Jesus, but to have a searing understanding of the pain and the sorrow that those who are poorest among us may feel.
It was not Jesus alone who was sent to carry a message to us. Mary too brings us knowledge born of cold reality and the courage to confront it. She issues to us the revolutionary promise that is “the Magnificat,” the prelude to the whole gospel of God’s compassion for the economically poor and oppressed.
In this Advent season, as we await the symbolic birth of Jesus, we pause to remember that Mary’s age-old message of peace, justice and hope is also intended to guide our own lives in these times of war, racism, destructive dominion, and injustice.
FOR REFLECTION:
- Does the message of the Magnificat have any meaning or implications for our nation’s political and economic systems and what our role should be in them?
- If the angel was in fact looking for Mary today to bring the message, just where would the angel find her?
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on the part of Juan Diego, was this a dream ? a hallucination ? a fantasy? or was there a physical/bodily presence of a woman? Could a camera photo have been taken ? Some people have asked this of me, and I was not sure how to respond.
Considering there is the physical image still on display, I don’t think it could be called a dream, hallucination, or fantasy. Perhaps there was a physical bodily presence, or perhaps it was a visionary one, but the point is that however she was present to Juan Diego, she was actually present.
How beautiful to be reminded of this powerful reflection by Sr Dianna Ortiz.
She is indeed “presente” as we celebrate this feast so important for our people, especially those on the margins.
Que viva la Virgen de Guadalupe!
+ John Stowe, OFM Conv.