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The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday, Memorial of Our Lady of Gudalupe, 12 December 2024
Revelation 11:19, 12:1-6, 10 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> Luke 1:39-47
O most Blessed Virgin Mary of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas and the Philippines, you appeared in Mexico in a very crucial moment in history when the world was expanding its horizon and reach, when powers were consolidating, with so many new things being learned and discovered, a period of great advancements but also of moral decay when people and their lives were taken for granted.
Like during that time, many people are suffering today not only from sickness, poverty and illiteracy but also from lack of respect for life, the prevalence of a culture of death versus the culture of life; what a beautiful image you presented yourself to St. Juan Diego and us, dear Lady of Guadalupe so that we may always value every human person especially those at their weakest stages of infancy and old age, of being indigenous, of being poor and disadvantaged.
At the Annunciation of the Lord's birth, you already lived the future birth of Christ in the present moment as your words to the Angel attested to this truth: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38).
Let us live the gospel now amid our joyful expectations of Christ's Second Coming by allowing the transforming presence of Jesus work in us and among us to make true the voices heard by John in heaven: "Now have salvation and power come, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed" (Revelation 12:10). Amen.
