>>> OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE – Pray for Us!
THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS
Introduction
On December 9, 1531, our Lady appeared to a young Indian convert, Juan Diego, in Tepic, Mexico, now part of Mexico City. On his cloak she left the impression of her image. This site became the most venerated place of pilgrimage for Latin America. Under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mary was declared the patroness of the Americas. Formerly a secondary patroness of the Philippines, this memorial of Mary has been reintroduced as a celebration for the Philippines because of the former strong links of the Philippine Church with the Mexican Church.
Entrance Antiphon cf. Jer 31: 10; Is 35: 4
Hear the word of the Lord, O nations; declare it to the distant lands: Behold, our Saviour will come; you need no longer fear.
Collect
Incline a merciful ear to our cry, we pray, O Lord, and, casting light on the darkness of our hearts, visit us with the grace of your Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading Numbers 24:2-7,15-17a
In those days: Balaam lifted up his eyes, and saw Israel encamping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him, and he took up his discourse, and said, “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, the oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, but having his eyes uncovered: How fair are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel! Like valleys that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the LORD has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters. Water shall flow from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.” And he took up his discourse, and said, “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, the oracle of him who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, but having his eyes uncovered: I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come forth out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel.”
Responsorial Psalm 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9
R. Teach me your paths, O Lord.
O LORD, make me know your ways. Teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth, and teach me; for you are the God of my salvation. R.
Remember your compassion, O LORD, and your merciful love, for they are from of old. In your merciful love remember me, because of your goodness, O LORD. R.
Good and upright is the LORD; he shows the way to sinners. He guides the humble in right judgment; to the humble he teaches his way. R.
Gospel Acclamation Psalm 85:8
Alleluia, alleluia! Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and grant us your salvation. Alleluia!
Gospel Matthew 21:23-27
At that time: When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you a question; and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven or from men?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the multitude; for all hold that John was a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Reflection
Am I not here, I who am your mother? On the morning of Dec 9, 1531, Our Lady appeared to a man Juan Diego in what will be one of four apparitions to this peasant in the Hill of Tapeyac which would become part of Villa de Guadalupe, a suburb of Mexico City. On another day fixed for her apparition, Juan’s dying uncle needed the attention of a priest and Juan in order to avoid being delayed by the Virgin chose another route around the hill but was intercepted by the Virgin. The Virgin Mary chided him with words that would become synonymous with this apparition; “Am I not here, I who am your mother?” She chided Juan for forgetting to have recourse to her. Of course, Juan’s uncle recovered after this. These words of the Blessed Virgin should resound in the hearts of Christians today: We have a mother in the Blessed Virgin Mary. She is our most powerful intercessor. Run to her in your situations of need and crisis.
Intentions
– Lord Jesus, make your Church be a star that proclaims that you are present among your people when we love one another and have a sense of justice, we pray:
– Lord, let those who wander about without knowing where they are going discover in the Gospel something that gives meaning to their lives, above all the person of Jesus, we pray:
– Lord, as we prepare for Christmas, may you become closer and more real to us these days, we pray:
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept, we pray, O Lord, these offerings we make, gathered from among your gifts to us, and may what you grant us to celebrate devoutly here below gain for us the prize of eternal redemption. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon cf. Ps 105: 4-5; Is 38: 3
Come, O Lord, visit us in peace, that we may rejoice before you with a blameless heart.
Prayer after Communion
May these mysteries, O Lord, in which we have participated, profit us, we pray, for even now, as we walk amid passing things, you teach us by them to love the things of heaven and hold fast to what endures. Through Christ our Lord.
Blessing
Lord, we believe in you and in your word. Make us believe in no other authority but you. May we always be protected by your saving power which the world cannot guarantee. May God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!