A few minutes before writing this teaching, my daughter brought to my attention an article by an eighteen-year-old girl who wrote about her abortion. The girl concluded her article by saying: "I want to have a good life. To keep this baby now, when I'm single, broke, and about to start college, would be unfair."
Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe, was in similar circumstances. She also was young, single, broke, and pregnant, and probably wanted a good life. The teenage mother above used the word "unfair." Possibly, in her humility, Mary might have also thought it "unfair" that she should be carrying this Child. Mary maintained that she was merely a lowly servant of God (Lk 1:38, 48). She probably thought it "unfair" that Almighty God would honor her among all people for the privilege of carrying God's Son (Lk 1:49).
"Nothing is impossible with God" (Lk 1:37). The abortion industry has a stranglehold on much of the planet, but Mary has a stranglehold on Satan (see Gn 3:15). Through Mary's "Yes," God "guided [her] blow at the head of the chief of our enemies" (Jdt 13:18).
Mary crushed Satan through her "Yes" to God. May we follow her example and her advice by likewise saying "Yes" to Jesus and doing whatever He tells us (Jn 2:5).
| PRAYER: | Father, "I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me as You say" (Lk 1:38). |
| PROMISE: | "Your deed of hope will never be forgotten by those who tell of the might of God" –Jdt 13:19 |
| PRAISE: | Millions of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans are in the Church because Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe, visited St. Juan Diego. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College