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
"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."
When Our Lady appeared to St. Juan Diego, she referred to him as "the most humble of my children."
Juanito, Juan Dieguito as Our Lady called him, was on his way to mass on this day in 1531. This was a 15 mile round trip he did by foot. She asked him to go to the Bishop with the message of building a temple in the place of her apparition. Juan Diego promptly went to the Bishop and was to come back another day after he had had time to reflect upon what Juan Diego had told him.
She appeared to Juan Diego 2 more times. And each time he delivered the same message to Bishop Juan de Zumárraga. The Bishop requested proof of this request.
On the fourth day, Our Lady asked Juan Diego to go to the top of the Tepeyac hill and pick up roses though it was winter. He did this, after Our Lady placed her hands on the roses and then sent him back to the Bishop. Once in the presence of the Bishop and other people, Juan Diego opened the cloak (tilma) where he was carrying the roses. In the tilma there was an image of Our Lady. This was proof enough for the Bishop who set to build the temple Our Lady requested.
St. Juan Diego was truly ready to do God's will at a moment's notice. He was on his way with a set plan, then he was asked to take a detour. And when delivering the message he was not accepted "with open arms". Would I be able to persevere under adverse circumstances?
This is how St. Juan Diego was a humble person. He cared more about Our Lady, and delivering her message. We don't have an account of him complaining about it. It was only during December 11th, when his uncle was in danger of death that he decided to take a different path so he could get a priest to administer the last rites.
Our Lady intercepted and chided him for not having had recourse to her. She assured him his uncle would be OK, and sent him to the top of the hill. This is another testament of his faith and humility. Would I trust completely in God if circumstances were adverse like this? and that "everything is going to be OK"? That really takes great faith and trust.
Let's pray for St. Juan Diego's intercession for our priests, so they can have the virtue of humility. So they can serve God and their flocks with total and perfect love.
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