Judith 13:18bcde & 19 – deacon rudy's notes

On Saturday we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Back in 2018, I created a 3-part series called “Our Lady of Guadalupe.” In episode 1, I reflect on the religious dimension of this feast. In episode 2, I recounted the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In episode 3, I explored some of the cultural and political dimensions of Our Lady of Guadalupe. If you’d like to learn more about this great feast, go to the website https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/, and in the search bar on the right, type in “Our Lady of Guadalupe,” and the episodes will pop right up. I will include links to each episode in today’s notes: 06 Our Lady of Guadalupe Episode 1, 07 Our Lady of Guadalupe Episode 2, and 08 Our Lady of Guadalupe Episode 3.

One of the optional readings for today is from Revelation. And if you read this passage and compare it to the miraculous image of Our Lady that appeared inside of St. Juan Diego’s cloak, the similarities are remarkable. The reading says that “a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head, a crown of twelve stars. She was with child…” (Revelation 12:1-2).

Compare the miraculous image of Our Lady to the description in Revelation. By the way, I have an excellent rendering on the website for today’s episode that with some callouts that explain some of the elements we find. The image is of a woman clothed with the sun. She wears a mantel of stars. She stands on the moon. And the ribbon she wears is above her belly, which we believe means she’s pregnant. Our Lady chose to reveal herself to St. Juan Diego as the pregnant woman we find in Revelation. Amazing!

Her request of St. Juan Diego mimics God’s request of her. She said yes to God and followed God’s plan. Now, in so many of her apparitions like today’s feast, or at Fatima or Lourdes, she asks Jesus’ disciples to do something. Will they surrender to God’s will and do like Mary? She asked St. Juan Diego to tell the bishop to build a church right where the apparition occurred. What happens in church? We praise and worship God and celebrate the Eucharist! Mary always points to her son.

But today’s readings challenge all of us!

In today’s reading from Revelation, the dragon wanted to devour the child (Revelation 12:4). The child is Jesus, and the dragon is like Herod, who tried to kill Jesus while acting under Satan’s influence. And that dragon swept a third of the stars out of the sky (Revelation 12:4). What the heck does that mean?

Theologians tell us that one way to interpret this passage is that in the end, Satan will claim a third of all humans that have ever existed. A third!

My brothers and sisters, God wants all of us to be with him! As missionary disciples, we share the Good News of Jesus Christ with everyone we encounter! God pursues all of us, but he will not force himself on anyone. We try to bring as many as possible to salvation through Christ Jesus.

Why?

Well, frankly, because there is an end. We don’t know when it will happen, but all good things must come to an end. And on that day, God judges everyone. That’s the truth it. The birth of Jesus marks the beginning of a timer. Things have been set in motion. Now, I don’t say this to scare anyone, but to remind us that we have a purpose. We have no time to waste. Will we like St. Juan Diego say yes to Mary’s request? Will we bring people to Jesus Christ?

Homework! Showered in God’s grace, I ask you to reflect on the following questions.

What things or doubts get in the way of you saying yes to God?

I think reflecting on this question will help us be better disciples. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

Image Credit: Artist unknown. JPG file.

Bibliography:
1. Gadenz, Pablo T. The Gospel of Luke. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2018. Kindle.
2. Williamson, Peter S. Revelation. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2015. Kindle.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. Mary and Old Testament women: 64, 489
2. Mary’s faith and fiat: 148, 494, 973, 2617, 2622, 2674
3. Nothing impossible with God: 269, 273
4. Ecumenical councils on the incarnation: 456, 464-67
5. Virginal conception of Jesus by the Holy Spirit: 484-88, 496-97, 505, 510, 695, 697, 723
6. Mary, Daughter of Zion: 489
7. Immaculate Conception: 490-91, 722
8. Mary, Mother of the Church: 501, 963-75
9. Church as mother: 757
10. The kingdom in its fullness: 1042
11. Hail Mary: 2676-77

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121220.cfm
Lectionary: 690A

Reading 1
Zechariah 2:14-17
Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion!
See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD.
Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day,
and they shall be his people,
and he will dwell among you,
and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.
The LORD will possess Judah as his portion in the holy land,
and he will again choose Jerusalem.
Silence, all mankind, in the presence of the LORD!
For he stirs forth from his holy dwelling.

Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab
God’s temple in heaven was opened,
and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.

A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet,
and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.
Then another sign appeared in the sky;
it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns,
and on its heads were seven diadems.
Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky
and hurled them down to the earth.
Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth,
to devour her child when she gave birth.
She gave birth to a son, a male child,
destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod.
Her child was caught up to God and his throne.
The woman herself fled into the desert
where she had a place prepared by God.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have salvation and power come,
and the Kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Anointed.”

Responsorial
Judith 13:18BCDE, 19
R. (15:9d) You are the highest honor of our race.
Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God,
above all the women on earth;
and blessed be the LORD God,
the creator of heaven and earth.
R. You are the highest honor of our race.
Your deed of hope will never be forgotten
by those who tell of the might of God.
R. You are the highest honor of our race.

Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, deserving of all praise;
from you rose the sun of justice, Christ our God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Luke 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
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.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.

Luke 1:39-47
Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”

And Mary said:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”

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