12/12/12. This date is surely a feast day for numerologists! It is also the feast day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico. If you have been to Mexico, you know that she is the most prominent religious figure in the country, seemingly ahead of Jesus and God! It is not unusual to see an altar piece with the Virgin of Guadalupe at the top then God under her and Jesus below God. The Virgin of Guadalupe is popular not only in Mexico, but throughout Latin America, North America, and the world. She may be the most well-known non-Biblical Christian figure in the world.
When the Spanish/Europeans came to the New World they brought their religion with them. And they used Catholicism as a tool of intimidation to subdue the indigenous people. It was a way of imposing European culture on the people of the Americas. In their eyes, however, the Europeans were offering the native peoples salvation and eternity in heaven.
The appearance of the Virgin of Guadalupe to Juan Diego, a poor Indian peasant is a story of Catholicism taking on an indigenous expression. The Virgin herself appears as an Indian and she offers encouragement to Juan Diego. She has him implore the bishop on her behalf to build a church where she appeared to Juan Diego. She brings an Indian image to Catholicism and a female image to people who were accustomed to worshipping gods and goddesses and missed having an image of the feminine divine in this new European religion.
With the appearance of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Christianity could be more accessible to the indigenous peoples of the Americas, and the Europeans incorporated a native indigenous figure into their panoply of saints. So the Virgin of Guadalupe extends the conveyance of the Gospel. She expresses the glad tidings of great joy to ALL people to a new population in a way that truly is life-giving and joyful.
Prayer: We are grateful that God comes to us with glad tidings whatever our life’s circumstances. The gospel is transcultural and timeless. It is good news to all people in all places and times. May we celebrate divine love in all of its many manifestations. Amen.
Lakewood United Church of Christ 