Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Bẩy Tuần thứ Hai, Mùa Vọng

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Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Bẩy Tuần thứ Hai, Mùa Vọng
Thiên Chúa đã ban những điều lạ (dấu hiệu) mà Ngài sắp làm cho dân Do Thái. Thánh Gioan Tẩy Giả là một trong những dấu hiệu đó, Thánh Gioan là người đã chỉ cho mọi người biết Chúa Giêsu và dọn đường cho Ngài đến với họ những người dân riêng của Chúa. Thánh Gioan đến để hoàn tất nhiệm vụ quan trọng của tất cả các tiên tri (ngôn sứ) đã đi trước ông, Ông là ngón tay chỉ vào Chúa Giêsu Kitô.  Ông là vị tiên tri cuối cùng và lớn nhất của vương quốc cũ, của giao ước cũ.
Người Do Thái mong đợi khi Đấng Cứu Thế sẽ đến, Tiên tri Ê-lia sẽ xuất hiện để thông báo sự hiện diện của Ngài. Ông Gioan nắm giữ tất cả các vai trò của tiên tri Ê-lia và chuẩn bị dọn đường cho sự xuấn hiện của Chúa Giêsu Kitô bằng cách rao giảng phép rửa, thống hối và canh tân cuộc sống.
Là người đầy tớ trung thành, thận trọng và trung tín, chúng ta cũng phải biết chuẩn bị cho sự trở lại của Chúa đến với loàn người chúng ta một lần nữa bằng cách sửa đổi cuộc sống, từ bỏ tội lỗi và từ bỏ tất cả mọi thứ mà đã ngăn cản chúng ta theo đuổi và làm ý muốn của Ngài.  
Chúng ta có mong muốn làm theo ý của Thiên Chúa và chúng ta đã chuẩn bị sẵn sàng để gặp Chúa Jesus, khi Ngài trở lại trong vinh quang?
"Lạy Chúa Giêsu, xin Chúa khuấy động lòng nhiệt tình của chúng con cho sự công chính và cho Nước Trời của Chúa. Xin Chúa Giải thoát chúng con tthoát khỏi mọi sự tự mãn và thoát khỏi những ảnh hưởng xấu trong đường lối của tội lỗi và thế gian vật chất để chúng con có thể hướng trọn tâm hồn của chúng con cho bạn và cho Nước Ttrười của mình Chúa."
 
Meditation: "Elijah must first come"
God gives signs to show what he is about to do. John the Baptist is one such sign, who pointed to Jesus and prepared the way for his coming. John fulfilled the essential task of all the prophets: to be fingers pointing to Jesus Christ. John is the last and greatest prophet of the old kingdom, the old covenant. The Jews expected that when the Messiah would come, Elijah would appear to announce his presence. John fills the role of Elijah and prepares the way for the coming of Jesus Christ by preaching a baptism of repentance and renewal.
As watchful servants, we, too must prepare for the Lord's coming again by turning away from sin and from everything that would keep us from pursuing his will. Are you eager to do God's will and are you prepared to meet the Lord Jesus when he returns in glory?
"Lord Jesus, stir my zeal for your righteousness and for your kingdom. Free me from complacency and from compromising with the ways of sin and worldliness that I may be wholeheartedly devoted to you and to your kingdom."
 
Saturday of the Second Week of Advent 
“I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased.  So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.”  Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.  Matthew 17:12–13
The last of the Old Testament Prophets was Malachi. He concluded his ministry about 400 years prior to the coming of Christ. Malachi prophesied that a “messenger” would come before the Messiah so as to prepare the way before Him. Malachi goes on further to say that “Elijah the Prophet” will come before the day of the Lord (See Malachi 3:1–24).
Many of the people at the time of Jesus did not understand this prophecy and were not even aware of it. Therefore, the scribes used this prophecy to confuse many of the people by claiming that since “Elijah” had not come, then clearly Jesus was not the promised Messiah.
Jesus clarified to the disciples that the “messenger,” who was to be the new Elijah, had already come in the person of John the Baptist. Thus, in clarifying this, Jesus also clarified that the scribes were not accurate in their attempt to interpret the Scriptures and were actively misleading the people on account of their errors.
One thing this tells us is that we must approach the word of God with humility. The pride of the scribes led them to believe that they had some sort of extraordinary wisdom that they did not. Thus, they acted as poor spiritual teachers of the people of God.
Humility before the Word of God is essential if we are to properly understand not only the Old Testament prophecies but also the very words of Jesus Himself. Without humility before the Word of God, we can all easily misinterpret the beautiful and holy words spoken by our Lord.
Everything in the Scriptures is profound, deep and true. And by this holy Word of God we come to meet God Himself. But if we allow pride to seep in, we may find ourselves imitating the scribes and misunderstanding God’s Word. The result will be a skewed image of God which will become an impediment to our personal encounter with our loving Lord. But if we can always remain humble before all that God has revealed to us, then we will more easily be open to those deepest and most beautiful truths God wants to speak to our hearts.
Reflect, today, anyway that you have found yourself confused by the Word of God. Try to humbly open your heart more fully to that which our Lord wants to speak to you. Listen with an open mind and heart and allow the pure gift of faith to become your guide so that you will be led to those deepest truths of our faith.
My mysterious and beautiful Lord, You have revealed to us the deepest and most profound mysteries of life through Your written Word. May I always approach Your Word with humility and openness so that I will come to know You more fully. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Saturday of the Second Week of Advent 20245
Opening Prayer: Lord God, your ways are mysterious. You have ordained to bring about your plan of salvation in stages, one stage prefiguring the next. You sent Elijah to your people to call them to conversion. Centuries later, you sent John, the New Elijah, to your people to prepare them for the advent of your Son. Today, you call me to hear their witness and turn to you with all my heart.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Elijah the Prophet: During the season of Advent, the Church often invites us to contemplate the figure of John the Baptist. We are asked to look at John the Baptist as the New Elijah. When the Book of Sirach meditates on the great figures in salvation and summarizes the life of the prophet Elijah, it highlights the power of his prophetic words, how he combatted those who worshipped the pagan god Baal, how he brought down fire from heaven, and how he was taken up into heaven in a chariot of fiery horses. Sirach recalls Malachi’s prophecy that one like Elijah would appear before the day of the Lord. The task of this future Elijah-like prophet is to initiate the conversion of the people of Israel and the reestablishment of the tribes of Israel. In the Gospel of Luke, the angel Gabriel indicates to Zechariah that his son, John, will be the new Elijah promised by Malachi: “[Your son] will go before [the Lord] in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord” (Luke 1:17). How am I listening to John’s message and preparing for the coming of the Lord?
2. The Advent of the New Elijah: In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus points out that John the Baptist is the fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy about the return or coming (advent) of Elijah. The Apostles of Jesus have just witnessed the appearance of Elijah with the transfigured Jesus, and so they ask about Malachi’s prophecy about Elijah’s advent before the coming of the Messiah. John the Baptist is not the reincarnation of Elijah, but in the words of his father, Zechariah, is one who goes before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah. How did John imitate the great Elijah? First, his prophetic words were fiery, like those of Elijah. Second, Elijah called down fire from heaven on the prophets of Baal, while John warned the Pharisees to repent from their sin to avoid the eternal fire. Third, Elijah shut up the heavens, stopped the rains, and brought down fire from heaven. John, when he baptized the Messiah, saw the heavens rip open and beheld the descent of the Holy Spirit, the Fire of God, upon Jesus. Just as Elijah called the people of Israel to repent before the day of judgment, we hear John call us to repent from our sins this Advent to be ready to meet our Lord and Savior.
3. Memorial of Saint Lucy: Today, we celebrate the memorial of Saint Lucy, who was born in Syracuse, Sicily, around the year 283. When she was five, her father died and left her mother, Eutychia, alone to raise her. Lucy’s mother suffered from hemorrhages at the time and feared for Lucy’s future, so she arranged a promise of marriage for her daughter to a pagan nobleman. Hopeful for a cure for her mother’s hemorrhages, Lucy convinced her mother to make a pilgrimage to Saint Agatha’s tomb in Catania (about 40 miles north of Syracuse). While at the tomb, Lucy had a vision of Saint Agatha, who promised that Lucy’s mother would be cured and that Lucy would become the glory of Syracuse, just as she was the glory of Catania. Lucy sensed that she was called, like Agatha, to be a virgin Bride of Christ and to die as a martyr. She convinced her mother to postpone her marriage to the nobleman and to give their wealth to the poor. In 303, the Emperor Diocletian issued an edict outlawing Christianity in the Roman Empire. A year later, Lucy’s suitor became aware that Lucy was not going to become his bride and had given large sums of money to the poor. Enraged, he reported Lucy to the governor of Syracuse and denounced her as a Christian. The governor tried to force her to abandon her faith and offer sacrifice to the Roman gods, but she refused. When Lucy accused the governor of worshipping demons, the governor ordered her to be defiled in a brothel. But the soldiers couldn’t even move her. Attempts to burn her at the stake did nothing. Finally, the governor ordered a soldier to stab her in the neck with a sword. Only then was Lucy killed. Lucy’s martyrdom is recalled in the First Eucharistic Prayer, where we ask God to grant us some share and fellowship with the holy Apostles and Martyrs: with John the Baptist, Stephen, Matthias, Barnabas, Ignatius, Alexander, Marcellinus, Peter, Felicity, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecelia, Anastasia, and all your Saints.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are glorified by your martyrs who share in your passion and death. Help me to face the sufferings and trials in this life with supernatural courage and fortitude. When I am tempted to complain, help me recall all the good things you have given me so that my heart is full of gratitude.
 
Saturday of the Second Week of Advent 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, your ways are mysterious. You have ordained to bring about your plan of salvation in stages, one stage prefiguring the next. You sent Elijah to your people to call them to conversion. Centuries later, you sent John, the New Elijah, to your people to prepare them for the advent of your Son. Today, you call me to hear their witness and turn to you with all my heart.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Elijah the Prophet: This week’s Advent liturgy invites us to contemplate the figure of John the Baptist. Today, we are asked to see John the Baptist as the New Elijah. In the Old Testament, the Book of Sirach contains a summary reflection on the great figures of salvation history. When it summarizes the life of Elijah, the prophet, it highlights the power of his prophetic words, how he combatted those who worshipped Baal, how he brought down fire from heaven, and how he was taken up into heaven in a chariot of fiery horses. Sirach recalls Malachi’s prophecy that foretells that one like Elijah will appear before the day of the Lord. This prophet will work toward the conversion of the people of Israel and the reestablishment of the tribes of Israel. In the Gospel of Luke, the angel Gabriel indicates to Zechariah that his son, John, will be the new Elijah promised by Malachi: “[Your son] will go before [the Lord] in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord” (Luke 1:17).
2. The Advent of the New Elijah: In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus points out that John the Baptist is the fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy about the return or coming (advent) of Elijah. The apostles have just witnessed the appearance of Elijah with the transfigured Jesus, and so they ask about Malachi’s prophecy about Elijah’s advent before the advent of Messiah. John the Baptist is not the reincarnation of Elijah, but in the words of his father, Zechariah, is one who goes before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah. How did John imitate the great Elijah? First, his prophetic words were fiery, like those of Elijah. Second, Elijah called down fire from heaven on the prophets of Baal, while John warned the Pharisees to repent from their sin to avoid the eternal fire. Third, Elijah shut up the heavens, stopped the rains, and brought down fire from heaven. John, when he baptized the Messiah, saw the heavens rip open and beheld the descent of the Holy Spirit, the Fire of God, upon Jesus. Just as Elijah called the people of Israel to repent before the day of judgment, we hear John call us to repent from our sins this advent to be ready to meet our Lord and Savior.
3. John of the Cross: Today, we celebrate the memorial of John of the Cross. Like Elijah and John the Baptist, John of the Cross undertook the work of a prophetic reformer. He worked tirelessly and zealously with Teresa of Jesus to reform the Carmelite Order. He was a pilgrim in this world who left everything behind and experienced the dark night of the soul. He aimed toward spiritual marriage and the transforming union with Christ, his Beloved. Two of his books, Ascent of Mount Carmel and Dark Night of the Soul, delve into the process of Christian transformation needed for a soul to begin mystical union with God. The spiritual life is thus seen by John of the Cross as a journey that every soul must undertake through divine grace. The annual celebration of Advent, with its call to be ready to meet Christ, is part of our spiritual journey.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I want to scale the heights of mystical union with you. Do not let me be afraid to deny 
 
Reflection: Saturday of the Second Week of Advent 
`Will we recognize the Lord, when we see him? The Jewish people didn't. They missed all the signs that manifested his presence among them! The irony of it was they had longed and were still longing for the Messiah, for centuries. Why then did they miss seeing him? Perhaps they had their own criteria what the Messiah should be, should do. In fact they were so wrapped up in their perception that they dared to pick up stones to hurl at him, and finally did eventually crucify him; and before him his messenger, John the Baptist (the second Elijah) was killed; though his life was a witness to what he had been sent to do!
We too can become spiritually blind when we cling to our own opinions, beliefs, without leaving room for change or transformation of our mindset!  God comes to us in different guises into our lifes, which makes us search for him everywhere — not necessarily in places of worship!
Jesus, often told his listeners: “the Kingdom of God is among you/within you.” We cannot capture God and keep him all to ourselves. R.S Thomas, a Welsh poet once said of God: “He is such a fast God...leaving even as we arrive.” Lord make us turn to You. Let us see your face, and we shall be saved.
 
Saturday 2nd of Advent
Opening Prayer: Dear Jesus, open my heart to your inspirations in this moment of prayer. I believe that you have something you wish to say to me, and I want to be ready to hear you. Good Jesus, increase my trust in you and teach me to love you more and more. 
Encountering Christ: 
Jesus Is Always Open: Jesus must have welcomed this question from his disciples. They seem to be sincerely trying to understand why or how things were unfolding so differently from what they had expected. How good Jesus is that he never despises or shames us, even in our slowness to understand his ways. Perhaps in this time of prayer, we can sit with our questions and let our hearts be open before him, knowing that he is “the Way, the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6).
Jesus Reminds Us: The Apostles still didn’t understand entirely, but their slowness didn’t keep Jesus from trying to help them along. Even here, he reminded them–gently, but clearly–that the Son of Man would suffer. Jesus had not come to establish a worldly kingdom here but to lead us, through this world, to the Kingdom of Heaven that will have no end. We may fear to suffer, as the Apostles did, but let us keep our eyes on Jesus and not lose hope. He has taken all this suffering upon himself and redeemed it, so we can never suffer for naught. He doesn’t promise to take away all the difficulties, but he, God-with-us, Emmanuel, is with us through them all. 
They Understood: It seems from today’s Scripture that the disciples understood the meaning of Jesus’ words all at once, in a moment. “Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.” Those little (or big) “ah-ha” moments we sometimes experience, whether slow awakenings or coincidences–“God-winks”–are wonderful expressions of God’s loving care for us. We can sense the Holy Spirit at work, enlightening our minds to see God’s hand at work in a new way, and our hearts fill with gratitude. Notice, however, that new insights follow when we’ve had the courage and childlike simplicity to ask questions of Jesus. He invites us to “speak up” in prayer, wrestle with difficult truths, and persevere, bringing our difficulties to him with the same openness and sincerity as his Apostles did. As we reach the halfway point of Advent, perhaps we can pause, heart-to-heart with Jesus, and speak to him of these things. 
Conversing with Christ: Good Jesus, thank you for this time of prayer. Thank you for reminding me that you are so gentle, good, and patient. You neither despise my slowness nor shame me for my faults. How much I need your mercy, Jesus! Come, make haste! Come to my heart and come into this waiting world, so in need of your grace and salvation. 
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will strive to be sincere before you and let you into these places of my heart where I feel afraid, confused, or uncertain about what you are asking of me. I trust that if I open the door, you will enter with grace. 
 
Reflection Saturday of the Second Week of Advent 
     God gives signs to show what He is about to do. Unfortunately, most of the time people refuse to see and believe it. This passage explains how the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first before the Son of Man. That being said, John the Baptist was the spirit and power of Elijah, but they rejected the idea.
     John, very much like the role of Elijah, prepares the way for the coming of Christ by preaching about repentance. Nothing stopped John from doing what God told him to do. As servants of God, we too must get rid of every doubt and must be willing to listen to Him and to obey Him. It's easy to doubt and be skeptical. We get so used to being in a desperate situation that we learn to accept that reality. But, we are constantly being challenged to change.  We must be willing to adapt to something better and painfully leave behind what has become familiar.
     We need to open our hearts more to the Lord's message for us. If not, we might just miss out on what God really wants for us. Let us continue to pray for guidance in all that we do in order to participate fully in God's wish to build his kingdom in our midst.
 
Wau- Meditation: Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11 
You are destined … to put an end to wrath before the day of the Lord. (Sirach 48:10)
Fiery destruction and judgment are strong themes in the first part of today’s reading. Elijah is revered as the prophet who called down fire to consume his sacrifice and wipe out his enemies. This is the great prophet who was swept up to heaven in a flaming chariot and whose dramatic return the people awaited with a mixture of expectation and fear: expectation because of the hope that his return would rid the earth of all evil and injustice, and fear because everyone knew they harbored some degree of evil in their own hearts in the form of sin.
Through the gift of inspired hindsight, we know that Elijah did return—in the person of John the Baptist. But John didn’t come to unleash the judgment of a wrathful God. Rather, he came “to put an end to wrath” in preparation for the Lord’s coming (Sirach 48:10). He came to proclaim the way out of human anger, which divides us from one another and estranges us from God. He came to call us to repentance so that we could soften our hearts. So yes, he did come to burn away evil, but with the fire of love, not vengeance or anger.
We may sometimes think of God as a punitive judge, but that’s not who our heavenly Father really is. His one constant goal is to bring us life in all its fullness (John 10:10). If he comes to destroy anything at all, it’s those forces that block us from receiving this precious gift.
So don’t give in to fear. Don’t think that Jesus is coming with harsh judgment and quick condemnation. God is inviting you to steep yourself in his love today. Is there something that makes it hard for you to receive that love? The pain of a wounded relationship or the false belief that you have to go it alone? Don’t let it get the upper hand! In your prayer today, surrender it to the Lord. Imagine the flames of his love consuming your fears and wounds. Let him warm your heart as he sets you free!
“Father of mercy, come and burn away every obstacle in my heart!”
 

Suy Niệm Thứ Sáu Tuần thứ Hai Mùa Vọng

Suy Niệm Thứ Sáu Tuần thứ Hai Mùa Vọng
Trong cuộc sống con người của chúng ta, chắc chắc cũng sẽ có những điều không may hay bất hạnh xảy đến , Và mỗi khi như thế, chúng ta buồn, khồ và có thể đánh mất đi niềm hy vọng và thậm chí còn nghĩ rằng cuộc sống chẳng có tương lai. Tuy nhiên, chắc chắn là đối với người có hy vọng, họ sẽ có được một tương lai sáng láng đang đón chờ trong tương lai. Khi niềm hy vọng đó là một niềm hy vọng của con người có nền tảng căn bản trên khả năng của chính mình để vượt qua những trở ngại.
            Nói chung niềm hy vọng này sẽ đòi hỏi rất nhiều nỗ lực để nhận ra nó và chúng ta phải làm một cái gì đó giúp cho chính bản thân và tương lai của mình. Khi niềm hy vọng của chúng ta trong cuộc sống được đặt nền tảng trong đức tin Kitô giáo, thì đó là niềm hy vọng thiêng liêng, đem lại sinh động và mang đến sự hoàn hoản trên nền tảng của lời Thiên Chúa đã hứa . Trong bài đọc thứ Nhất
Hôm nay, Tiên tri Isaiah đã đưa ra cho chúng ta dưọc thấy vấn đề này rất là rõ ràng. Thiên Chúa  trước tiên đã xác định các nguyên tắc quan trọng về sự mặc khải của Ngài cho chúng ta: "Ta là Chúa, Thiên Chúa của ngươi, ta sẽ dạy cho ngươi biết những gì là tốt lành và dẫn đưa ngươi đi trong con đường lẽ phải”.
            Lời của Thiên Chúa dạy chúng ta, không bao giờ có những lời cay nghiến, nặng nề, hay chua chát, ngay cả khi những lời đó được lấy ra từ những lời dạy bảo trong các điều răn. Thay vào đó, khi chúng ta kết hợp với Chúa qua việc giữ các điều Răn và lời Chúa dạy, thì sự mặc khải của Thiên Chúa sẽ giúp chúng ta trong việc hoàn thành trong sự thịnh vượng Thiêng Liêng mà Ngài đã hứa với chúng ta trong việc chúc phúc cho cuộc sống của chúng ta trên thế gian này và lầy đó làm ngưỡng cửa để tiến đến của thiên đàng.
            Lạy Chúa, xin cho chúng con biết sinh động bởi niềm hy vọng vào những lời hứa của Chúa, để nhờ vào ơn Chúa giúp, chúng con có thể được tham dự cùng Chúa trong việc xây dựng một tương lai hòa bình,  công lý, trong hạnh phúc và Lẽ Phải.
 
Reflection SG
When things go badly wrong for us, we may lose hope and even come to feel that there is no future. Yet it is certain that for the person with hope a future lies in store. When that hope is a human hope and grounded in our own abilities to overcome obstacles, it will generally require much effort to realize it and make something worthwhile of ourselves and our future.  When our hope in life is grounded in Christian faith then it is a divine hope, animated and brought to fulfillment on the basis of God's promises. The passage we read from Isaiah today puts this very clearly before us. God first of all affirms the great principle of his revelation to us: “I, the Lord, your God, teach you what is for your good and lead you in the way you should go”.
            God's words to us, even when they take the form of commandments, are never burdensome. Rather, as we stay united with God through keeping them, God’s revelation engages us in accomplishing that divine prosperity which he promises us in blessing our life on earth and making of it a threshold of heaven.
Animated by hope in Your promises, Lord, may we be engaged with You in building a future of peace and justice, joy and truth.
 
Friday of the Second Week of Advent 
Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’”   Matthew 11:16–17
What does Jesus mean when He says “We played the flute for you…” and “we sang a dirge…?” The Church Fathers clearly identify this “flute” and “dirge” as the word of God that has been preached by the prophets of old. So many came before Jesus to prepare the way, but so many failed to listen. John the Baptist was the final and greatest prophet, and he called people to repentance, but few listened. Thus, Jesus points out this sad truth.
In our day and age, we have so much more than the prophets of the Old Testament. We have the incredible witness of the saints, the infallible teaching of the Church, the gift of the Sacraments and the life and teaching of the Son of God Himself as recorded in the New Testament. Yet, sadly, so many refuse to listen. So many fail to “dance” and “mourn” in response to the Gospel.
We must “dance” in the sense that the gift of Christ Jesus, by His life, death and resurrection should be the cause of our wholehearted rejoicing and eternal adoration. Those who truly know and love the Son of God are filled with joy! Furthermore, we must “mourn” on account of the countless sins in our own lives and in the lives of those all around us. Sin is real and prevalent, and a holy sorrow is the only appropriate response. Salvation is real. Hell is real. And both of these truths demand a total response from us.
In your own life, how fully have you allowed the Gospel to affect you? How attentive are you to the voice of God as it has been spoken through the lives of the saints and through our Church? Are you tuned in to the voice of God as He speaks to you in the depths of your conscience in prayer? Are you listening? Responding? Following? And giving your whole life in the service of Christ and His mission?
Reflect, today, upon the clear, unmistakable, transforming and life-giving words and presence of the Savior of the world. Reflect upon how attentive you have been in life to all that He has clearly spoken and to His very presence. If you do not find yourself “dancing” for God’s glory and “mourning” over the evident sins of your life and within our world, then recommit yourself to a radical following of Christ. In the end, the Truth that God has spoken throughout the ages and His holy and divine presence are all that matter.
My glorious Lord Jesus, I acknowledge Your divine presence in my life and in the world all around me. Help me to be more attentive to the countless ways that You speak to me and come to me each and every day. As I discover You and Your holy word, fill me with joy. As I see my sin and the sins of the world, give me true sorrow so that I will work tirelessly to combat my own sin and bring Your love and mercy to those who are most in need. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Friday 2nd of Advent 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, help me to listen to the songs of your prophet, John, and your Son, Jesus. I want to know when and how to mourn with sorrow. I want to know when and how to dance with joy. Your grace has truly turned my sorrow into joy.
Encountering the Word of God
1. What Has Isaiah Taught Us? During the first two weeks of Advent, we have read daily from the prophet Isaiah. Today is the last day of our sequential reading of the prophet. And so, it is good to ask ourselves, “What has Isaiah taught us during these first two weeks of Advent?” Isaiah spoke to the people of Jerusalem, condemned sinful ways, called the people to repentance, and comforted them by promising salvation. Have I been cut to the heart this Advent? Have I repented from my sins? Have I found comfort in the merciful arms of my Lord? How am I responding to Jesus?
2. John’s Funeral Song: In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus speaks about the failure of Israel to respond to both John and himself: “The call to repentance went out to many (Matthew 3:2; 4:17), but only a few took it to heart” (Mitch and Sri, The Gospel of Matthew, 156). For this reason, Jesus calls out their generation as unfaithful. They heard the funeral dirge of John and were not moved to mourn in the sense of beating one’s breast. John led by example, practiced asceticism, fasted in the desert, and encouraged his disciples to do the same (Matthew 9:14). Instead of listening to John and preparing themselves to meet the Lord’s Messiah, they criticized John, found fault with him, and accused him of demonic possession. They did the same to Jesus, criticizing him for associating with sinners and for violating the Sabbath rest and accusing him of working in league with the devil.
3. Jesus’ Wedding Song: Jesus identifies himself as the Son of Man, who plays the flute. He calls the people to dance with a wedding song. He is the long-awaited Bridegroom promised by the prophets of Israel. His disciples cannot fast while the Bridegroom is present: “Can the sons of the bridechamber mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast” (Matthew 9:14). We learn, then, that, in our Christian life, there are times for wedding feasting and funeral fasting. We have the bridegroom mysteriously among us through grace and the sacraments, and yet he has also been taken away. Our mourning on account of our sin and our joy on account of God’s mercy both need the assistance of divine grace to bear lasting spiritual fruit. 
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I have heard your song in the marketplace. It is a beautiful song of joy, and I want to learn it and sing it every day of my life. You are my Beloved, and I will strive to follow you faithfully.
 
Friday 2nd of Advent
Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, I believe that you have something to say to me today. You know how much I need you! Open my heart to your Spirit and fill my life with your grace. I believe that you are good and wish to draw me closer to you. I trust in you, even though I don’t always understand your plan. Help me to draw closer to that manger side on this Advent journey so that when you do come, I may receive you with a heart full of love. 
Encountering Christ: 
From the Heart: In Jesus’ question, it’s easy to hear the tone of a parent or teacher concerned and exasperated, at a loss, and trying to find yet another way to be understood. But Jesus’ words come not from a place of mere frustration, but from an intense and tireless love for each of us. “How else can I reveal myself to you? How else can I show you my love? How else can I convince you that I am the very answer for all that you seek?” In this time of prayer, may we let these questions speak to our hearts and dialogue freely with the Lord about them. 
Like Children: On other occasions, Jesus used the image of a child to illustrate how we must be to enter the Kingdom of God. He continually pleads with us to learn to see with his eyes and hear with his ears, even on this earth—to let him make himself present here, through our fiat. “It is like children,” he says, who know how to recognize a dirge or dance melody. A child’s simplicity is all sincerity and transparency. How much Christ desires that we approach him in this way! Perhaps the Holy Spirit invites us to pause in this moment of prayer so that he may reveal to us where we need to grow in childlike simplicity. 
Wisdom’s Vindication: “Wisdom is vindicated by her works,” says Jesus. The truth speaks for itself, and it is according to truth that Christ reveals—and it is the light of truth, in this Advent season, that calls us to greater conversion. May we not take on the posture of the Pharisees and choose blindness for ourselves, but may our words express faith as we pray, “Come, Lord Jesus!” 
Conversing with Christ: Jesus, you know my heart, and you know that I wish so sincerely to follow you, to be open to what you wish, and not to insist on my own way. Open my heart to reflect the simplicity of children. May I grow to be like your Mother, who as a young girl said “yes” to your invitation, or like the shepherd children who came to adore you, or even like you, the infant King soon to be born. Draw me closer to you, Jesus, and let me continue walking with you on this Advent journey. 

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..
 
REFLECTION
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.

 

Dec 12- Our Lady of Guadalupe—USA Feast

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

Of all the saints throughout the ages, none has proved to be as powerful an evangelist as the Mother of God. While on Earth, she lived a mostly hidden life, demonstrating the perfection of virtue to those closest to her. As a young mother, she cared daily for the needs of her divine Son, constantly pondering the mystery of His Incarnation as it unfolded before her eyes. Her love for her Son, lived out during Jesus’ earthly life, overflowed from her Immaculate Heart and continues to do so today.

After being assumed body and soul into Heaven, her work did not cease. As Queen of Heaven and Earth, she continues to intercede for her spiritual children, mediating the grace we need to grow in holiness. Throughout history, many Marian apparitions have been reported. While numerous reports have not been formally approved, some have, including the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 1531 to Saint Juan Diego.

Following the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire in 1521 by Hernán Cortés, the capital was rebuilt into what became Mexico City. Despite the cruelty some Spanish settlers inflicted on the Indigenous people, the Catholic Church, through missionaries and leaders, including Bishop Juan de Zumárraga, sought to protect their rights and dignity while evangelizing them. Many of the Indigenous were understandably suspicious of the missionaries, yet some converted, including a man named Cuauhtlatoatzin, who took the Christian name Juan Diego after his baptism, and his wife, who took the name María Lucía.

On December 9, 1531, while walking to Mass and catechism class, Juan Diego passed Tepeyac Hill, where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to him. She spoke to him in his native language, revealed herself as the Mother of God, and asked for a chapel to be built in her honor on that very spot. When Juan took the message to Bishop Zumárraga, the bishop asked for a sign.

On December 12, Juan’s uncle fell seriously ill. While hurrying to find a priest for the Last Rites, Juan took a different route to avoid delaying his journey, but the Mother of God appeared again. She assured him that his uncle was already healed and provided the promised sign for the bishop. She instructed Juan to pick roses blooming unseasonably on the hill; when he brought them to the bishop in his tilma, an image of the Virgin, just as Juan had seen her, appeared on his cloak. Juan Diego’s tilma now hangs in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in Mexico City, fulfilling the Blessed Mother’s request.

While the miraculous image was awe-inspiring, what followed was even more astounding. Over the next decade, millions of Indigenous people embraced the Christian faith, marking one of the most remarkable mass conversions in Church history—all due to the Blessed Mother’s evangelization and intervention. Her love for the Indigenous people and her desire for their salvation brought her to them personally, confirming the truth of the Gospel preached by the Church.

As we honor Our Lady of Guadalupe, reflect today on the tender love of the Mother of God. She deeply desired the salvation of the Indigenous people, just as she desires the salvation of all. Pray for her intercession so that millions more around the world may hear and accept God’s saving message.

Most loving Virgin of Guadalupe, as you looked down from Heaven upon the struggles and suffering of the conquered people of the Aztec Empire, your Immaculate Heart overflowed with compassion for them. As a result, you went to them personally to share the saving message of Your Son. Please pray for me, for the Americas, and for all your children, that we all will be guided to Your Son and come to know His gift of salvation. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us. Jesus, I trust in You.

 

Dec 12- Our Lady of Guadalupe—USA Feast

Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, I proclaim your greatness and my spirit rejoices in you as my God and Savior. You have done great things for me, and holy is your name. Your mercy is everlasting. You humble the arrogant, the mighty, and prideful, and lift up the lowly. Lift me up in your mercy today to share more fully in your divine life.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Maternal Closeness: On Monday, we meditated on Mary as the Immaculate Conception, using the first part of the Church’s most recent document on Mary’s titles and her cooperation in the work of salvation. Mary, the document affirmed, has a unique collaboration in the saving work that Christ carries out in his Church. Mary intercedes for us in heaven and is a motherly sign of the Lord’s mercy. In this way, the Lord gives his merciful action in us a maternal face and dimension. “The various Marian invocations, images, and shrines show Mary’s true motherhood, which draws near to the lives of her children. An example of this can be seen in how she appeared to Saint Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill and addressed him with the tender words of a mother: ‘My dearest and youngest son, Juan.’ When Saint Juan Diego expressed his difficulties in carrying out the mission entrusted to him, Mary showed him the strength of her motherhood: ‘Am I not here, who am your mother?... Are you not in the hollow of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms?’” (Mater Populi Fidelis, 43).

2. Motherly Intercession: “That experience of Mary’s maternal affection, which Saint Juan Diego lived, is the personal experience of all Christians who receive Mary’s affection and place ‘their daily necessities’ into her hands, trustfully opening ‘their hearts to implore her motherly intercession and obtain her reassuring protection’ (John Paul II, August 13, 1997). Beyond the extraordinary manifestations of her closeness, there are constant and daily expressions of her motherhood in the lives of all her children. Even when we do not request her intercession, she shows herself near to us as a Mother to help us recognize the Father’s love, to contemplate Christ’s saving self-gift, and to receive the Spirit’s sanctifying action” (Mater Populi Fidelis, 44). Mary is our Mother in the order of grace because she helps us prepare ourselves to receive the life of divine grace that only the Lord can pour into us (see Mater Populi Fidelis, 45). In bestowing the gift of grace, God fulfills our Mother’s desire. “As at Cana, Mary does not tell Christ what he should do. Instead, she intercedes by presenting him with our deficiencies, needs, and sufferings so that he may act with his divine power” (Mater Populi Fidelis, 49). Mary listens, decides, and acts to help us open our lives to Christ and to his grace.

3. Imitating our Mother: Mary intercedes for us, her children, and is close to us and invites us to open our hearts to God’s grace. As believers, we can imitate Mary’s preparatory role when we cooperate with God in his communication of grace. There are certain actions that we can do that prepare the reception of God’s sanctifying grace, such as preaching, teaching, and acts of charity and mercy (Mater Populi Fidelis, 57 and 59). We can help enkindle the faith of others through the proclamation of God’s Word, through our prayers, and through our works of love. “Works of love toward one’s neighbor — even daily labors or efforts to change this world — can then become a channel for cooperating with Christ’s saving work” (Mater Populi Fidelis, 62). When Mary intercedes for us, she implores God to grant us those internal impulses of the Holy Spirit, the divine aids that prepare sinners for justification and encourage those already justified by grace to grow in holiness. In this way, she is truly “Mother of grace.” “She humbly cooperates so that we may open our hearts to the Lord, who alone can justify us through the action of sanctifying grace: that is, when God pours his Trinitarian life into us, dwells in us as a Friend, and makes us sharers in his divine life” (Mater Populi Fidelis, 69). These aids that come from God have a maternal dimension and are filled with the tenderness and closeness of our spiritual Mother.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, your mother cares for me just as she cared for you. Listen to her intercession as she tells you what I most need. Bring her humble petitions before the throne of your heavenly Father.

 

Our Lady of Guadalupe—Dec 12

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.

 

Dec 12- Our Lady of Guadalupe—USA Feast

Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, you prepared Mary to be your new Ark. She is a covenantal sign of your merciful love among all nations. You blessed her with your grace, and she responded perfectly. Like her, my soul proclaims your greatness. Like her, my spirit rejoices in you.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Revelation of the Ark of the New Covenant: One of the mysteries of the world regards the fate of the Ark of the Covenant. Scripture says, in 2 Maccabees, that Jeremiah hid the ark somewhere on Mount Nebo, when the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple. When the people tried to mark the path to the ark, the prophet reproved them and declared: “The place is to remain unknown until God gathers his people together again and shows them mercy. Then the Lord will disclose these things, and the glory of the Lord and the cloud will be seen” (2 Maccabees 2:7-8). Jeremiah prophesies that one day, the lost Ark would reappear. In the Book of Revelation, John narrates how this occurs. The true Ark is no longer on earth but is in heaven and is associated with the sign of the woman clothed with the sun. Mary is the new Ark because her body was the dwelling place of God on earth (see Pitre, Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary, 60-63).

2. A Great Sign Appeared: The great sign John saw in heaven was that of a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. The sun, the moon, and the twelve stars refer back to a vision Joseph had in Genesis 37:9-10. There, Joseph dreamt that his father, Jacob (the sun), his mother, Rachel (the moon), and his eleven brothers (eleven stars) bowed down to him. In the Book of Revelation, the sign of the woman indicates that she is greater than the sun, for it clothes her and she stands in front of it, that she is greater than the moon, for it is beneath her feet, and that she is greater than the stars, for they are her crown. The twelve stars in Revelation symbolize the twelve tribes of Israel. “Seen in this light, the woman clothed with the sun is nothing less than the queen of the people of God, with her crown representing ‘a share in Christ’s kingship’” (see Pitre, Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary, 87).

3. The Sign of Our Lady of Guadalupe: Much of the image on the tilma of Juan Diego has a miraculous character to it.  The miraculous image of Mary as a pregnant native princess, along with the additions of the crown, sun, moon, and angel, was a powerful evangelizing and catechetical tool. Like many other ancient peoples, the Mesoamericans worshipped the sun and moon as gods. By standing in front of the sun and on top of the moon, the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe shows that she announces the God who is greater than their blood-thirsty sun god and that she herself is more powerful than the moon goddess of darkness. The apparition of Mary in 1531 led to the Mesoamericans being set free in Christ through the waters of Baptism. They no longer had to serve and feed the sun god, Huitzilopochtli, who demanded human sacrifice. By appearing to them, Mary reassured them that she would care for them tenderly as their Queen Mother.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, your mother cares for me just as she cared for you. Listen to her intercession as she tells you what I most need. Bring her petitions to your heavenly Father.