Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoaztzin was one of the few Mexicans who became Christian in the decade after Hernan Cortez and about 500 Spanish troops arrived in Mexico in 1519 – and soon conquered the powerful and rich Aztec empire.
In part, the Mexican resistance to these foreigners was weak, because of a local prophecy that the end of an age was imminent. The end of an was to be signaled by the return, from the east, of a white savior.
However, the oppression imposed by these new conquerors showed the Mexicans that Cortez was certainly not their savior. Though holy priests and religious arrived to try to share Christian faith, few converted in the face of the increasing clash between two worlds, that was heading towards an uprising of the downtrodden Mexicans that would have quickly become a bloodbath.
Until on this day, December 9, Juan Diego was headed by foot into the city to Mass, and the Mother of God appeared to him for the first time.
She spoke sweetly to him: “My Dear Juan Diego, I want you to tell the Bishop that I want a home built here so I can share my love with my children.”
Many will remember that a few days later she sent Juan Diego to the Bishop with beautiful flowers wrapped in his cloak. Opening his cloak to present the flowers, the beautiful image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was visible for all to see, like a photo of Our Lady.
Further, what not everyone may know is that in this image Our Lady is pregnant, as indicated by the style of her clothes, as the Mexicans clearly recognized.
Our Lady came bearing the true Savior! As through Our Mother Mary, the Lord was born among us in Bethlehem fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah, now she was bringing Him to America.
At a moment of seemingly unresolvable, explosive conflict, the Lord continues to say, I will help you, I am your redeemer! The Kingdom of Heaven is among us… He speaks to our time now too!
It seemed to be an impossible confrontation…
Yet Our Lady came so simply, carrying love, bringing Jesus. In Bethlehem 2000 years ago she brought Love Incarnate to the world.
Holy Mother, during this holy time, we beseech you: bring Love Incarnate to our families and our world now and in 2022! In our prayer and the beauty of these Advent days, surprise us by the love of Jesus! Make us Juan Diego's for our families and friends, healing hurts that block communication and our blindness to each other’s loneliness. Remove barriers that separate us. Help us unite our families around the Manger in Bethlehem. Amen.
