Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God. It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so that, as it is written, Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.
REFLECTION
Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God.
St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians explains that God's ways are not like ours.
Juan Diego was a simple "lowly" Aztec Indian. On December 9, 1531, Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to Juan to petition Bishop Juan Zumarraga to build a chapel on Tepeyac Hill in her honor. This location was the same place where human sacrifices were made to the Aztec gods.
The Bishop was later convinced when Our Lady's image was seen imprinted on Juan's tilma. The Chapel was built. Over 9 million Aztecs were converted to Christianity, because of the Virgin's image and its message.
Today, Juan's tilma is miraculously preserved for 494 years and is displayed in the Basilica. On July 31, 2002, Juan Diego was canonized by Pope John Paul II.
St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin was humble and lived the rest of his life near the chapel. He became a catechist and lived what he taught.
Let us pray for the virtue of humility and accept God's Will for us.
Thank you, Mary Jo, for sharing St Juan Diego’s life with us. May we all have the virtue of humility.