Suy Niệm Lễ Đức Mẹ Guadalupe 12/12

Suy Niệm Lễ Đức Mẹ Guadalupe 12/12
Hầu hết chúng ta nghĩ Đức Mẹ Guadalupe cũng chỉ là một hình ảnh như các hình ảnh Đức Mẹ khác đã hiện ra ở những nơi khác ở Âu châu. Nhưng đối với xứ Mexico Đức Mẹ Guadalupe là một phần tâm thức dân tộc. Đức Mẹ Guadalupe là một biểu tượng quốc gia nói lên tất cả người Công giáo cũng như không Công giáo. Điều này được như vậy là bởi vì ở đây Đức Maria không giống như những lần hiện ra khác, Đức Mẹ Guadalupe hiện ra ở đây như là một người Mỹ gốc Mexico, người bản xứ. Ngoại hình của Đức mẹ có nhiều tính năng mang các đức tính biểu tượng cho văn hóa địa phương, và đây là lý do tại sao Đức Mẹ  đã trở thành một hình ảnh rất sống động và linh thiêng của xứ này.
            Trong vũ trụ học, người Aztec (bản xứ) đã cho rằng mặt trời và mặt trăng có cuộc cuộc xung đột với nhau bởi vì họ (mặt trời và mặt trăng là anh em cùng cha khác mẹ). Theo truyền thuyết thần bầu trời nam và thần bầu trời nữ là cha mẹ của mặt trăng và các vì sao, nhưng thần bầu trời nam đã ngoại tình với nữ thần trái đất và họ đã sinh ra mặt trời. Do đó, ánh nắng mặt trời và mặt trăng giống như  anh chị em cùng cha khác mẹ không thể hòa hợp và không thể ở gần lại với nhau. Điều này giải thích ngày và đêm. Tuy nhiên, Đức Trinh Nữ Guadalupe mặc một chiếc váy màu hồng trang trí bằng hoa, tượng trưng cho trái đất, và trên đó Người lại mặc một chiếc áo choàng màu xanh với các ngôi sao. Trái đất và các ngôi sao từng được coi là thù nghịch vì có cuộc cuộc xung đột, nhưng tại sao ở đây trái đất và các ngôi sao lại được tập hợp với nhau nơi Đức Trinh Nữ Maria? Trong nền văn hóa đó, chiếc vòng đeo tay chỉ được đeo cho người  trinh nữ, và một cái khăn "sạt" màu đen là phần trang điểm của phụ nữ mang thai. Tuy nhiên, sự xuất hiện của Đức Trinh Nữ  có cả hai thứ. Đức mẹ  là một trinh nữ và đang mang thai.
            Sau cùng, Đức Trinh Nữ có các tính năng thể chất của người Aztec, ngoại trừ bàn Tay và ngón tay rất dài, giống như những người phụ nữ châu Âu. Đức Mẹ Guadalupe là một người phụ nữ hòa giải các đối lập, giao hoà giải quyết các cuộc xung đột, và mang lại sự hiệp nhất cho nền văn hoá của dân tộc bản xứ. Vì thế không có xa lạ, khi Đức Mẹ đã trở thành một biểu tượng quan trọng như vậy ở Mexico. Nơi Đức Mẹ tất cả những xung đột trong văn hóa của họ đã tan biến, và mở đầu cho một quốc gia có Chúa, với sự cầu bầu của Đức Trinh Nữ. Sau khi Đức mẹ hiện ra ở đây,  Công Giáo ở xứ này đã phát triển thât nhanh. Đức Mẹ Guadalupe không những được tôn vinh làm quan thầy nước Mexico nhưng còn được tôn vinh làm quan thầy của cả Mỹ Châu, kẻ cả Hoa Kỳ..
            Mùa Vọng là một món quà dâng lên Chúa Giêsu khi Ngài đến lần thứ nhất của như một em bé trong máng cỏ, nhưng đó cũng là một chuẩn bị cho Chúa Kitô đến lần thứ hai, khi Vương Quốc của Thiên Chúa sẽ được hiện diện trong sự trọn vẹn. Vào thời điểm đó, tất cả các cuộc xung đột sẽ được giải quyết, tình yêu, lòng thương xót, và công lý sẽ ngự nơi tối cao. Không còn chiến tranh, không còn chính trị, không còn ghen ghét thù hận nữa. Chỉ có tình yêu. Đức Mẹ Guadalupe nhắc nhở chúng ta rằng vương quốc này sẽ đến.  nhưng đó cũng là nhiệm vụ của chúng ta. Đối với những nơi nào có tình yêu, có tha thứ và  vị tha, thì vương quốc đó hiện diện. Mong rằng với Mùa Vọng này có thể là thời gian để chúng ta cùng nhau giúp xây dựng Nước Thiên Chúa, ở bất cứ nơi nào và không cần biết chúng ta là những ai, và ở trong bất cứ hoàn cảnh nào trong cuộc sống của chúng ta..
 
December 12 - Our Lady of Guadalupe
Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.”  Luke 1:30–31
Today we celebrate five successive apparitions of our Blessed Mother to Juan Diego, who was an Indian convert to the faith. Early in the morning of December 9, 1531, Juan was traveling to the town of Tlatelolco where he intended to attend a catechism class and the holy Mass. However, on his way, as he passed by the Tepeyac Hill, he was gifted by the vision of a bright light and heavenly music. As he gazed upward with wonder and awe, he heard a beautiful voice calling him. As he moved toward the voice, he saw the glorious Mother of God standing in youthful appearance in heavenly splendor. She said to him, “I am your merciful Mother…” She further revealed to him that she wanted a church built on that spot and that Juan was to go and tell this to the Bishop of Mexico City.
Juan did as our Lady asked, but the bishop was reluctant to believe. But once again, the Mother of God appeared to Juan and asked him to return to the bishop with her request. This time the bishop asked for a sign, and Juan reported this to the Mother of God. She said a sign would be provided, but Juan was prevented from receiving that sign, since he needed to attend to his sick uncle.
However, after two days, on December 12, 1531, Juan was once again traveling to the church in Tlatelolco to ask the priest to come and attend to his dying uncle. But this time Juan had taken a different route so as to avoid delay from his heavenly visitor. But this time our Blessed Mother came to him and said, “It is well, littlest and dearest of my sons, but now listen to me. Do not let anything afflict you and be not afraid of illness or pain. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Are you not in the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else you need? Do not fear, for your uncle is not going to die. Be assured…he is already well.”
As soon as Juan heard this from his heavenly visitor, he was overjoyed and asked for a sign to give to the bishop. The Mother of God directed him to the top of the hill where he would find many flowers that were in bloom completely out of season. Juan did as she said, and upon finding the flowers, he cut them and filled his outer cloak, his tilma, with them so he could bring them to the bishop as the sign requested.
Juan then made his way back to Bishop Fray Juan de Zumarraga, the Bishop of Mexico City, to present him with the flowers. To the surprise of all, as he opened his tilma to pour forth the flowers, there appeared on his tilma the image of the very woman who had appeared to him. The image was not painted; rather, every thread of this simple and coarse cloak had changed color to create the beautiful image. That same day, our Blessed Mother had also appeared to Juan’s uncle and miraculously cured him. 
Though these miraculous events have become embedded into the fabric of Mexican culture, the message is far more than cultural in significance. “I am your merciful mother,” she said! It is our Blessed Mother’s deepest desire that all of us come to know her as our mother. She wants to walk with us through the joys and sorrows of life as any loving mother would. She wants to teach us, lead us and reveal to us the merciful love of her divine Son.
Reflect, today, upon the miraculous actions of the Mother of God. But reflect, especially, upon her motherly love. Her love is a pure mercy, a gift of the deepest care and compassion. Her only desire is our holiness. Speak to her this day and invite her to come to you as your merciful mother.
My most merciful mother, I love you and invite you to pour forth upon me your love. I turn to you, this day, in my need, and I trust that you will bring me the abundant grace of your Son, Jesus. Mother Mary, O Virgin of Guadalupe, pray for us who turn to you in our need.  Saint Juan Diego, pray for us.  Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I know by faith that these are some of the most important moments of my day. I freely open my mind, heart and will for you to do as you please, because I know you can desire and do only what is good for me. I know that you will give me the grace to do whatever you ask of me and that you will always accompany me. That is enough for me.
Petition: Lord, give me the grace to do your holy will.
1. Pleasing God through the Small, Daily Tasks: The angel Gabriel finds Mary doing nothing extraordinary, but rather doing ordinary tasks like washing clothes, sweeping, getting water, doing the same daily prayer as every devout Jew. But in doing the ordinary she is doing what is pleasing to God. Her example should be our guide. Work can be an ordinary means of holiness. Man, as Pope Saint John Paul II said, “not only transforms nature, adapting it to his own needs, but he also achieves fulfillment as a human being and indeed, in a sense, becomes ‘more a human being’” (Laborem Exercens, no. 9). We please God when we do our duties, fulfill our responsibilities, work to meet our basic needs. While we may not be doing something extraordinary at every moment, we still praise and glorify God when we undertake the ordinary with love. If an angel were to come looking for me, would he find me doing my daily tasks lovingly?
2. “Do Not Be Afraid” - Mary “was greatly troubled and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.” When God presents us with his plan, we too might be afraid. We may not fully understand what he has in mind. It can seem that his plan is too great for us. But when God wants something from us, he shows us that it is not beyond our reach. As with Mary at the Incarnation, God will make it happen and will provide all the grace necessary for its completion.
3. “May It Be Done to Me According to Your Word” - When Gabriel clarifies Mary’s mission and illustrates that with God all things are possible, Mary makes an act of faith. Her act of faith is what the Second Vatican Council terms the “obedience of faith.” ‘The obedience of faith’ ‘is to be given to God who reveals, an obedience by which man commits his whole self freely to God, offering the full submission of intellect and will to God who reveals,’ and freely assenting to the truth revealed by Him” (Dei Verbum, 5). God supplied Mary with his grace and did not abandon her; nor will he abandon us. When we do what God wants and cooperate with his plan, he will support us. He will accompany us as we carry out his will and bring his plan to fulfillment. God’s will is our holiness, and when we do his will we help God to make us saints.
Conversation with Mary: Mary, teach me how to do God’s will as you did, so that I can remain in his company. I want to do his will, even though at times I know that it may seem difficult or impossible. Ask your son for the grace of perseverance for me so that I, too, may cooperate with the Lord, whether he is asking something of me that is ordinary or extraordinary.
Resolution: In a difficult situation, I will pray a “Hail Mary,” asking Mary for help in being faithful.
 
REFLECTION Dec 12
To most of us Our Lady of Guadalupe is just another Marian image, but in Mexico she is part of the national consciousness. She is a national symbol that speaks to all, Catholics and non-Catholics. This is so because unlike other apparitions of Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared as a Mexican/native American. Her physical appearance had features that were symbolic in the native culture, and this is why she became a very powerful image.
            In the Aztec cosmology, for example, the sun and the moon are in conflict because they are half-siblings. The sky god and the sky goddess are the parents of the moon and the stars, but the sky god had an affair with the earth goddess and they gave birth to the sun. Thus the sun and the moon are like half-siblings who do not get along and cannot stay together. This explains night and day. Yet the Virgin of Guadalupe wears a pink dress decorated with flowers, symbolizing the earth, and over it is a blue mantle with stars. The earth and the stars are supposed to be in conflict, but why are they together in the Virgin? In that culture, bracelets are worn only by virgins, and a black sash by pregnant women. Yet the Virgin wears both. She is a virgin who is pregnant.
            Finally, the Virgin has Aztec physical features, except for the hands and fingers that are very long, like those of European women.  Our Lady of Guadalupe is a woman who reconciles opposites, resolves conflicts, and brings unity. No wonder she became such a powerful symbol in Mexico. In her all the conflicts in their culture melted away, paving the way for one nation under God, with the intercession of the Virgin.
            Advent is a making present of the first coming of Jesus as a baby in a manger, but it is also an anticipation of Christ's second coming, when the Kingdom of God will become present in its fullness. At that time, all conflicts will be resolved; love, mercy, and justice shall reign supreme. No more war, no more politics, no more hatred. Only love. Our Lady of Guadalupe reminds us of this kingdom that is to come, but which is also our task. For wherever there is selfless love, the kingdom is present. May Advent be a time for us to help build the Kingdom of God, wherever and whoever we are, whatever our circumstances in life.