Where Are You Going?

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.”

LUKE 1:39-47

This is why I love the Gospel of Luke.  The action is so light...Mary coming and going, and a baby leaping…but it feels heavy with meaning.  There is weighty communication happening.  And it is about recognition.  Elizabeth recognizes John in utero, recognizing Jesus in utero.  And in that moment she is filled with the Holy Spirit to recognize and understand the revelation before her.  It comes through Mary having believed...through her free "yes."  

Where are you going?" asks Mary of Juan Diego.  On this feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe I am reminded of this revelation.  "God is with you!" she speaks to a mestizo church.  God's choice of Mary and Mary's choice of Juan Diego continues to highlight the option for the poor.  "Build a church where the cries of the poor and the oppressed will be heard" Juan Diego hears Mary call.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for me