God uses the small and the childlike to do things that the proud and the strong would be afraid to attempt. He uses such people to bring his message to the world. Through Mary, he exults the meek and the lowly, and takes on human flesh. Through Mary, he continues to offer so many blessings to the world. And yet they are blessings that the world all too frequently misses. Even we Catholics who should know better miss them. And so he sends another childlike soul, Juan Diego to help make known the blessings we have in our mother Mary.
Juan Diego has trouble being faithful to Mary. What she asks of him is difficult. But the reminder this morning is that we can trust her.
"Am I not your mother? ... Are you not in the crossing of my arms?"
We see the results of this trust in our mother. When we trust her so completely, the world can't help but change, for her greatness is revealed through us, just as it is with the roses and the tilma that Juan Diego shows the bishop.
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet,
and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
We may wonder, with Elizabeth, and most likely with Juan Diego, "And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" But come Mary does. She comes because she believes the word spoken to her by the LORD. She believes the angel when he tells her that nothing will be impossible for God. She comes to us because she trusts like a child. She comes in order to proclaim the great things God has done.
The role that the mother of God is meant to play in our world is not a small one.
Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day,
and they shall be his people,
and he will dwell among you,
and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.
All generations, all peoples, and all nations are meant to call her blessed as she draws them more and more to the worship of her son.
Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God,
above all the women on earth;
and blessed be the LORD God,
the creator of heaven and earth.
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