Fr. Tom Lynch, OP

On this Eve of the Solemnity of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we remember that in her day, as in the days of Paul the Apostle, and still in our own, the Church was filled with all kinds of people, good and bad, and all kinds of divisions. Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared dressed in native clothing, speaking the native tongue, cutting through divisions. We are meant to do the same.

On this Memorial of Our Lady of Loreto, we see Mary as the new Eve. Through the disobedience of Eve, our relationship with God was wounded. Yet Eve received a promise that God would restore this relationship, and the promise is fulfiled through the obedience of Mary, the New Eve, who said "let it be done to me according to your word." Might we repeat those words with Mary today?

Can we be like Jesus, who emptied himself of his divine glory in order to come and be one of us. Can we listen to one another without needing to be right? Can we take a moment to just listen?

Jesus told us that the greatest commandment was to love God with your entire being. Whatever we do to pray, if we do it in a spirit of love for God, it will draw us closer to God.

On this Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, we hear a reading about how God sees everything and we do not. But Francis had a talent for seeing the inner goodness of a person, even when the exterior was a little gruf. Can we grow in our ability to do this?

Jesus was asked by the rich young man, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" His response showed that cherishing one another here on earth leads to cherishing them in heaven, because God's kingdom is on earth and it is in heaven.