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Truly Charitable Acts / Actos verdaderamente caritativos

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I’ve always been told to be charitable. Sometimes I was charitable because I felt bad, or I just wanted to feel good, and other times I wanted someone to notice that I was being charitable. But the true meaning of charity is doing something because it benefits others and not because it makes me feel a certain way. 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls us to give freely what we’ve received freely. God calls us out of our shell to go beyond what we deem comfortable. “Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep.” This may have sounded a bit extreme at the time given the long distances His Apostles traveled. But that is what God calls us to, the extreme.

There is a Youtube channel called “Yes Theory”, where their main goal is to “Seek Discomfort” by traveling the world and going beyond the social norms to seek out deeper meaning in life. They do things that they wouldn’t do if they followed the normality of society. They do extreme things in the name of experiencing something that the majority of the world never would. They reach out to communities that would otherwise go unnoticed in society.

God asks us to go beyond the social norms, to look beyond the glory and the good feeling of helping others and be truly charitable because it benefits others. Even as Christians, we can seek to be charitable, but get so confused on what that truly means. As I’ve been training to be an EMT, I’ve been learning the meaning of what it means – going into bad situations with an open heart, letting people know that you see them and are there for them, not to be the “hero” or because you feel bad for them. 

That is what God calls us to do, to go into life and see people for who they are, maybe even evangelize to them through our actions, because no matter how small, they go a long way. Even if they aren’t looking for help, or maybe in some cases, are even cursing at the fact that you are there, you can be at peace knowing that God loves them.

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Siempre me han dicho que sea caritativo. A veces lo era porque me sentía mal, o simplemente quería sentirme bien, y otras veces quería que alguien notara que estaba siendo caritativo. Pero el verdadero significado de la caridad es hacer algo porque beneficia a los demás y no porque me hace sentir de cierta forma.

En el Evangelio de hoy, Jesús nos llama a dar libremente lo que hemos recibido libremente. Dios nos llama a salir de nuestro caparazón para ir más allá de lo que consideramos cómodo. “No lleven con ustedes, en su cinturón, monedas de oro, de plata o de cobre. No lleven morral para el camino ni dos túnicas ni sandalias ni bordón, porque el trabajador tiene derecho a su sustento”. Esto puede haber sonado un poco extremo en ese momento dadas las largas distancias que viajaban Sus Apóstoles. Pero eso es a lo que Dios nos llama, al extremo.

Hay un canal de YouTube llamado “Yes Theory”, donde su objetivo principal es “Buscar la incomodidad” viajando por el mundo y yendo más allá de las normas sociales para buscar un significado más profundo en la vida. Hacen cosas que no harían si siguieran la normalidad de la sociedad. Hacen cosas extremas en nombre de experimentar algo que la mayoría del mundo nunca experimentaría. Se acercan a comunidades que de otro modo pasarían desapercibidas en la sociedad.

Dios nos pide que vayamos más allá de las normas sociales, que miremos más allá de la gloria y la buena sensación de ayudar a los demás y que seamos verdaderamente caritativos porque beneficia a los demás. Incluso como cristianos, podemos buscar ser caritativos, pero nos confundimos mucho sobre lo que eso realmente significa. Mientras me he estado entrenando para ser técnico de emergencias médicas, he estado aprendiendo el significado de lo que significa: entrar en situaciones malas con un corazón abierto, dejar que las personas sepan que las ves y que estás ahí para ellas, no para ser el “héroe” o porque te sientes mal por ellas.

Eso es lo que Dios nos llama a hacer, a entrar en la vida y ver a las personas como son, tal vez incluso evangelizarlas a través de nuestras acciones, porque no importa cuán pequeñas sean, llegan muy lejos. Incluso si no están buscando ayuda, o tal vez en algunos casos, incluso están maldiciendo el hecho de que estás allí, puedes estar en paz sabiendo que Dios los ama.

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Ben Hooper is originally from Maryland, having been adopted from Korea and growing up in the Catholic faith. He went to Franciscan University to dive deeper into his faith and eventually graduated with a degree in Business Management. He loves musical theater, sports, spending time with his wife Lily and their dog Kolbe.

Feature Image Credit: RDNE Stock project, pexels.com/photo/a-group-of-volunteers-assisting-an-elderly-person-on-a-black-wheelchair-for-charity-6646917/

The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

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Unshakable Faith / Fe inquebrantable

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During Lent, especially as it was getting closer to Easter, I always found it hard to continue with “what I gave up for Lent”. The idea of having ice cream, chocolate, or whatever I decided I was going to do without that year, was just too much. I would go crazy once Easter finally got there. I realized that we shouldn’t only go crazy for the physical, tangible things we’ve missed all Lent long, but we also need that energy in our faith lives knowing that our debt has been paid by Jesus’ death and resurrection. The faith life of the “modern” age has become stale, especially with all the shiny technology or the other ways people find “happiness”. But in reality, having Faith in God is what brings happiness.

St. Charles Lwanga and his companions had joyful, unshakable faith even when facing martyrdom for their Christian beliefs, challenged by their ruler who sought power over the Buganda region of modern day Uganda. Their faith was tested every day and yet they were unfailing in their love of God. They found comfort and happiness knowing that God had given them new life through His Son’s death and resurrection. 

In the Gospel today, Jesus talks to His Father saying “I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me.” Jesus is calling out to the Father telling Him that He has given us the tools to have unshakable faith.

During this Easter season, let’s celebrate knowing that the saints who have come before us were living examples of unshakable faith. We can look at their lives to see what we can do to grow in our joyful faith in God. Take comfort knowing that they have been saved by Jesus’ rising again, just as we have. Let’s take that Easter joy and bring it out into the world so we can be better messengers of God’s Word in our community.

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Durante la Cuaresma, especialmente cuando se acercaba la Pascua, siempre me resultaba difícil continuar con “lo que renuncié durante la Cuaresma”. La idea de comer helado, chocolate o lo que fuera que decidía que iba a dejar de comer ese año era demasiado. Me volvía loco cuando por fin llegaba la Pascua. Me di cuenta de que no solo deberíamos volvernos locos por las cosas físicas y tangibles que hemos renunciado durante toda la Cuaresma, sino que también necesitamos esa energía en nuestra vida de fe sabiendo que nuestra deuda ha sido pagada con la muerte y resurrección de Jesús. La vida de fe de la época “moderna” se ha vuelto seca, especialmente con toda la tecnología brillante o las otras formas en que la gente encuentra la “felicidad”. Pero en realidad, tener fe en Dios es lo que trae la felicidad.

San Carlos Lwanga y sus compañeros tenían una fe alegre e inquebrantable incluso cuando se enfrentaban al martirio por sus creencias cristianas, desafiados por su gobernante que buscaba el poder sobre la región de Buganda en la actual Uganda. Su fe se ponía a prueba todos los días y, sin embargo, eran inquebrantables en su amor a Dios. Encontraron consuelo y felicidad al saber que Dios les había dado nueva vida a través de la muerte y resurrección de Su Hijo.

En el Evangelio de hoy, Jesús habla con Su Padre diciendo: “He manifestado tu nombre a los hombres que tú tomaste del mundo y me diste. Eran tuyos y tú me los diste. Ellos han cumplido tu palabra y ahora conocen que todo lo que me has dado viene de ti, porque yo les he comunicado las palabras que tú me diste; ellos las han recibido y ahora reconocen que yo salí de ti y creen que tú me has enviado”. Jesús está clamando al Padre diciéndole que Él nos ha dado las herramientas para tener una fe inquebrantable.

Durante esta temporada de Pascua, celebremos sabiendo que los santos que nos han precedido fueron ejemplos vivientes de fe inquebrantable. Podemos observar sus vidas para ver qué podemos hacer para crecer en la fe gozosa en Dios. Consuélate sabiendo que ellos han sido salvados por la resurrección de Jesús, tal como nosotros. Tomemos esa alegría Pascual y llevémosla al mundo para que podamos ser mejores mensajeros de la Palabra de Dios en nuestra comunidad.

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Ben Hooper is originally from Maryland, having been adopted from Korea and growing up in the Catholic faith. He went to Franciscan University to dive deeper into his faith and eventually graduated with a degree in Business Management. He loves musical theater, sports, spending time with his wife Lily and their dog Kolbe.

Feature Image Credit: Rachel McDermott, unsplash.com/photos/green-rose-leaves-and-two-cards-flat-lay-photography-fZ2DnCBiLE8

The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

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Believing Isn’t Just Seeing / Creer no es sólo ver

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In today’s Gospel Philip, an apostle of Jesus, asks Jesus to show him God the Father. Jesus responds saying “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”  Jesus tells Philip that He is one with God the Father and goes on to say “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it”.

I have always found myself asking God for things, whether it was to pass a test during college, to win a soccer game, or even make a deadline. Sometimes I get upset when things don’t go my way. I find myself questioning God if He truly cares about me and asking Him why He let me fail.

Many people, including myself, can relate to today’s Gospel, asking for proof of God’s existence to justify belief. In the movie The Polar Express, Tom Hanks says: “Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can’t see.” It’s human nature to ask questions about what lies beyond life. Philip had seen Jesus perform great miracles of healing yet still asked questions about God’s existence. 

As we go through the season of Easter and into the rest of the year, I invite you to find ways to encounter God in the midst of your daily life.

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En el Evangelio de hoy, Felipe, un apóstol de Jesús, le pide a Jesús que le muestre a Dios Padre. Jesús le responde diciendo: “¿Tanto tiempo hace que estoy con ustedes, ¿y todavía no me conoces? Quien me ha visto a mí, ha visto al Padre. ¿Entonces por qué dices: ‘Muéstranos al Padre’?” Jesús le dice a Felipe que Él es uno con Dios Padre y continúa diciendo: “Yo les aseguro: el que crea en mí, hará las obras que hago yo y las hará aún mayores, porque yo me voy al Padre; y cualquier cosa que pidan en mi nombre, yo la haré para que el Padre sea glorificado en el Hijo. Yo haré cualquier cosa que me pidan en mi nombre”.

Siempre me he encontrado pidiéndole cosas a Dios, ya sea aprobar un examen en la universidad, ganar un partido de fútbol o incluso cumplir con una fecha límite. A veces me enojo cuando las cosas no salen como yo quisiera. Me encuentro cuestionándome si Dios realmente se preocupa por mí y le pregunto por qué me permitió fracasar.

Muchas personas, yo incluido, pueden identificarse con el Evangelio de hoy, que pide pruebas de la existencia de Dios para justificar la creencia. En la película The Polar Express, Tom Hanks dice: “Ver es creer, pero a veces las cosas más reales del mundo son las que no podemos ver”. Es parte de la naturaleza humana hacer preguntas sobre lo que hay más allá de la vida. Felipe había visto a Jesús realizar grandes milagros de sanación y, aun así, se preguntaba sobre la existencia de Dios.

A medida que avancemos en la temporada de Pascua y en el resto del año, los invito a encontrar formas de encontrar a Dios en medio de su vida diaria.

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Ben Hooper is originally from Maryland, having been adopted from Korea and growing up in the Catholic faith. He went to Franciscan University to dive deeper into his faith and eventually graduated with a degree in Business Management. He loves musical theater, sports, spending time with his wife Lily and their dog Kolbe.

Feature Image Credit: Ismael Paramo, unsplash.com/photos/man-praying-7tjalVjjuVc

The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

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We are God’s Children / Somos hijos de Dios

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In today’s Gospel Jesus is very blunt with the crowd He is addressing. He believes that “Abraham’s children” are following the teachings of Abraham instead of God. He chastised them  saying: “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here; I did not come on my own, but he sent me.”

Jesus came as the new covenant; the new promise from God, so that we would have a path back into unity with him in heaven. Even though sin is still an everyday struggle, we have hope.

I find it hard to believe that the people Jesus was speaking to weren’t convinced that He was the Son of God. It’s crazy to think that two thousand years later we aren’t able to walk alongside Jesus physically but we still believe that He is the Son of God. 

When I was in Vatican City looking around St. Peter’s Basilica I saw so many people from different cultures and different ways of life and what brought them all together was the Catholic faith. As God’s children we can reflect on how we’ve gotten to this point by recalling all the disciples, saints, martyrs and missionaries throughout Church history who joyfully spread the Word of God. 

The Catholic faith is alive, and we should be joyful. As we get ready for Holy Week and the Easter season, let us remember that not only was Jesus sent from the Father as His Beloved Son but that we are also His beloved children, and because of His sacrifice we have a place with Him in heaven as well.

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En el Evangelio de hoy, Jesús es muy directo con la multitud a la que se dirige. Él cree que los “hijos de Abraham” siguen las enseñanzas de Abraham en lugar de las de Dios. Los reprendió diciendo: “Si Dios fuera su Padre me amarían a mí, porque yo salí de Dios y vengo de Dios; no he venido por mi cuenta, sino enviado por él”.

Jesús vino como la nueva alianza; la nueva promesa de Dios, para que tuviéramos un camino de regreso a la unidad con él en el cielo. Aunque el pecado sigue siendo una lucha diaria, tenemos esperanza. Me resulta difícil creer que la gente a la que Jesús se dirigía no estuviera convencida de que era el Hijo de Dios. Es una locura pensar que dos mil años después no podemos caminar físicamente junto a Jesús, pero todavía creemos que es el Hijo de Dios.

Cuando estaba en la Ciudad del Vaticano mirando la Basílica de San Pedro, vi a tanta gente de diferentes culturas y diferentes formas de vida y lo que los unía a todos era la fe católica. Como hijos de Dios, podemos reflexionar sobre cómo hemos llegado a este punto recordando a todos los discípulos, santos, mártires y misioneros que a lo largo de la historia de la Iglesia difundieron con alegría la Palabra de Dios.

La fe católica está viva y debemos estar alegres. Mientras nos preparamos para la Semana Santa y la Pascua, recordemos que Jesús no solo fue enviado por el Padre como Su Hijo Amado, sino que nosotros también somos Sus hijos amados y, debido a Su sacrificio, también tenemos un lugar en el cielo con Él.

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Ben Hooper is originally from Maryland, having been adopted from Korea and growing up in the Catholic faith. He went to Franciscan University to dive deeper into his faith and eventually graduated with a degree in Business Management. He loves musical theater, sports, spending time with his fiancé Lily and their dog Kolbe.

Feature Image Credit: Anna Rynkowska, pexels.com/photo/path-on-a-field-during-sunset-26289003/

The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

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Healing Relationships / Sanar las relaciones interpersonales

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In today’s Gospel from Luke Jesus preaches the parable of the barren fig tree. The tree has borne no fruit for three years, so he tells the gardener to get rid of the tree. But the gardener tells the person that they need to put time and effort into taking care of the tree and if it doesn’t bear fruit after that, they would cut it down. 

I believe that this parable given by Jesus was meant for how we should go about our relationships with one another. To be able to forgive and give time to relationships that are strained, to heal and allow the “barren tree” to bear fruits of goodness. Even if the relationship doesn’t bear fruit, we can find peace knowing that we did our best to mend the relationship. Making the sacrifice to overcome our pride to mend and heal broken relationships can be part of the suffering we endure during Lent.

As we look forward to reaching the end of Lent and beginning the joyous time of Easter, I invite you to reflect on where your relationships are not only spiritually but also with one another. As we approach Easter, we can reflect on where we can improve personally and also find healing in our relationships with others, so as to participate fully in Easter joy.

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En el Evangelio de hoy de Lucas, Jesús predica la parábola de la higuera estéril. El árbol no ha dado fruto durante tres años, por lo que le dice al jardinero que se deshaga del árbol. Pero el jardinero le dice a la persona que necesita dedicar tiempo y esfuerzo a cuidar el árbol y si no da fruto después de eso, lo cortará.

Creo que esta parábola dada por Jesús tenía como objetivo cómo debemos abordar nuestras relaciones con los demás. Ser capaces de perdonar y dar tiempo a las relaciones que están tensas, sanar y permitir que el “árbol estéril” dé frutos de bondad. Incluso si la relación no da fruto, podemos encontrar paz sabiendo que hicimos lo mejor que pudimos para reparar la relación. Hacer el sacrificio de superar nuestro orgullo para reparar y sanar las relaciones rotas puede ser parte del sufrimiento que soportamos durante la Cuaresma.

Mientras anticipamos llegar al final de la Cuaresma y comenzar el tiempo alegre de la Pascua, los invito a reflexionar sobre cómo están sus relaciones no solo espiritualmente sino también entre sí. Mientras vamos acercándonos a la Pascua, podemos reflexionar sobre dónde podemos mejorar personalmente y también encontrar sanación en nuestras relaciones con los demás, para poder participar plenamente en la alegría de Pascua.

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Ben Hooper is originally from Maryland, having been adopted from Korea and growing up in the Catholic faith. He went to Franciscan University to dive deeper into his faith and eventually graduated with a degree in Business Management. He loves musical theater, sports, spending time with his fiancé Lily and their dog Kolbe.

Feature Image Credit: Jonathan Borba, https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-cross-on-top-of-mountain-2917373/

The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

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Trusting to Let Go / Abandonarnos a la voluntad de Dios

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I was at a low point of my life, when I realized I wasn’t going to be able to make the team for soccer in college. I felt like I lost my identity. I felt as if I had wasted all the years I spent trying to build myself to be fast, to be the best I could be physically and mentally. I felt like I lost who I was. It was almost as if I was blind, trying to find my way through something I never had to experience before. It was hard not to blame God. I wondered why this was happening to me. Why wasn’t I able to reach what I thought was my dream?

In adoration on a Friday morning, I was praying and asking God why I wasn’t able to play. I kept coming back to the word “trust”. I realized that maybe I wasn’t supposed to play soccer. I had to let go of something that, for years, I had focused solely on, accepting the future isn’t possible without God. My own personal goal was blinding me to the fact that God wanted me to be able to get through college with a more open schedule. Looking back, my grades definitely appreciated the extra time to study.

Today’s Gospel really puts into perspective how trusting in God allows Him to work miracles in our lives. Just like the blind man, we are sinners who are sometimes blind to the will of God. Let us ask God for the grace to let go of our own personal wishes and trust that He will heal us and give us a plan that is good to Him.

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Estaba en un punto bajo de mi vida, cuando me di cuenta de que no iba a poder entrar al equipo de fútbol de la universidad. Sentí que había perdido mi identidad. Sentí que había desperdiciado todos los años que pasé tratando de desarrollarme para ser rápido, para ser lo mejor que podía ser física y mentalmente. Sentí que había perdido quién era. Era casi como si estuviera ciego, tratando de encontrar mi camino a través de algo que nunca antes había tenido que experimentar. Era difícil no culpar a Dios. Me preguntaba por qué me estaba pasando esto. ¿Por qué no podía alcanzar lo que creía que era mi sueño?

En adoración un viernes por la mañana, estaba orando y preguntándole a Dios por qué no podía jugar. Seguía volviendo a la palabra “confiar”. Me di cuenta de que tal vez no era su plan que jugara al fútbol. Tenía que soltar algo en lo que, durante años, me había centrado únicamente, aceptando que el futuro no es posible sin Dios. Mi objetivo personal me estaba cegando ante el hecho de que Dios quería que pudiera terminar la universidad con un horario más libre. Mirando hacia atrás, mis calificaciones definitivamente agradecieron el tiempo adicional para estudiar.

El Evangelio de hoy realmente pone en perspectiva cómo confiar en Dios le permite obrar milagros en nuestras vidas. Al igual que el hombre ciego, somos pecadores que a veces somos ciegos a la voluntad de Dios. Pidamos a Dios la gracia de dejar de lado nuestros propios deseos personales y confiar en que Él nos sanará y nos dará un plan que sea bueno para Él.

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Ben Hooper is originally from Maryland, having been adopted from Korea and growing up in the Catholic faith. He went to Franciscan University to dive deeper into his faith and eventually graduated with a degree in Business Management. He loves musical theater, sports, spending time with his fiancé Lily and their dog Kolbe.

Feature Image Credit: Mario Gómez, https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-a-cliff-near-the-sea-6245473/

The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

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Go Beyond Comfort / Ir más allá de la comodidad

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I was always told that part of being Catholic was to preach the Gospel but I never fully understood it as I was growing up. While attending Franciscan University, I got to learn what it meant to spread God’s Word. Through mission trips and service in the community, I found that preaching the Gospel goes beyond just telling others about the Word of God. It can also entail taking part in the community by serving at soup kitchens or going to nursing homes to play music for the elderly. By being yourself, you can help reveal God’s love to others. 

Today’s Gospel from Mark embodies what it means to be Catholic. Jesus calls us to go out into the world and preach the Gospel to all creation. We live in a world where everything is easy and at our fingertips. To go outside of our comfort zone is something that never gets easier, but being Catholic isn’t supposed to be comfortable. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati’s famous saying “Verso L’alto”, which means “To the Heights”, invites us to go beyond our comfort to preach the Gospel – to go above and beyond. That is what saints in the making do.

With 2025 just starting, I invite you to reflect on what it means to be a saint and to seek new ways to preach the Gospel to others, building the confidence to go out and continue the mission of the Catholic faith.

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Siempre me dijeron que una parte de ser católico era predicar el Evangelio, pero nunca lo entendí completamente cuando estaba creciendo. Mientras asistía a la Universidad Franciscana, aprendí lo que significaba difundir la Palabra de Dios. A través de viajes misioneros y servicio en la comunidad, descubrí que predicar el Evangelio va más allá de simplemente hablarles a otros sobre la Palabra de Dios. También puede implicar participar en la comunidad sirviendo en comedores comunitarios o yendo a los asilos a tocar música para los ancianos. Al ser usted mismo, puede ayudar a revelar el amor de Dios a los demás.

El Evangelio de hoy de Marcos personifica lo que significa ser católico. Jesús nos llama a salir al mundo y predicar el Evangelio a toda la creación. Vivimos en un mundo donde todo es fácil y está al alcance de la mano. Salir de nuestra zona de confort es algo que nunca se vuelve más fácil, pero ser católico no se supone que sea cómodo. El famoso dicho del beato Pier Giorgio Frassati, “Verso L’alto”, que significa “Hasta las alturas”, nos invita a ir más allá de nuestra comodidad para predicar el Evangelio, a ir más allá. Eso es lo que hacen los santos en formación.

Ahora que el año 2025 está apenas empezando, los invito a reflexionar sobre lo que significa ser santo y a buscar nuevas formas de predicar el Evangelio a los demás, fortaleciendo la confianza para salir y continuar la misión de la fe católica.

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Ben Hooper is originally from Maryland, having been adopted from Korea and growing up in the Catholic faith. He went to Franciscan University to dive deeper into his faith and eventually graduated with a degree in Business Management. He loves musical theater, sports, spending time with his fiancé Lily and their dog Kolbe.

Feature Image Credit: Aleks Dahlberg, unsplash.com/photos/snow-capped-mountans-pVATCBKLH8w

The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

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Humble Beginnings / Inicios Humildes

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As the birth of our Lord approaches, I reflect on the idea of why we celebrate Christmas. In the American culture, is it because of the gifts? Is it because of the flashy sales? No. It is about the humble beginnings of Christianity. Mary and Joseph were not rich, so when the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her that she was to be the mother of God, it must have come as quite a shock. I would definitely freak out if I were in her position. Yet her answer to the angel was a very humble yes. Her faith and belief that God would provide, helped her to her fiat (her yes).

I was curious as to why Luke’s account of the Annunciation was chosen for the Gospel on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. I found that the Marian apparitions to a peasant in Mexico City, Juan Diego, could draw comparisons to the Annunciation. Juan Diego listened to Mary’s request for a church to be built in her honor. Juan Diego went to the Archbishop who at first didn’t believe him. Juan’s faith persevered, and he met with Mary on different occasions until his uncle fell ill, so he went to take care of him, just like how Mary went to Elizabeth. Mary appeared to Juan Diego on his journey to tell him that his uncle was healed. She then performed a miracle  to help convince the Archbishop to build a small chapel where the apparitions were. Just like the miracle of Jesus’s birth initiated the building of Christianity.

With Christmas so close, Our Lady of Guadalupe calls us to reflect on the humble beginnings of the Church and how we should reflect on our own faith to be able to answer the call from God and say yes.

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A medida que se acerca el nacimiento de nuestro Señor, reflexiono sobre la idea de por qué celebramos la Navidad. En la cultura estadounidense, ¿es por los regalos? ¿Es por las ventas espectaculares? No. Se trata de los humildes comienzos del cristianismo. María y José no eran ricos, así que cuando el Arcángel Gabriel se le apareció a María y le dijo que ella sería la madre de Dios, debe haber sido un gran shock. Definitivamente me asustaría si estuviera en su lugar. Sin embargo, su respuesta al ángel fue un sí muy humilde. Su fe y creencia en que Dios proveería la ayudaron a dar su fiat (su sí).

Sentí curiosidad por saber por qué se eligió el relato de la Anunciación según San Lucas para el Evangelio en la Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. Descubrí que las apariciones marianas a un campesino en la Ciudad de México, Juan Diego, podrían generar comparaciones con la Anunciación. Juan Diego escuchó la petición de María de que se construyera una iglesia en su honor. Juan Diego fue al arzobispo, quien al principio no le creyó. La fe de Juan perseveró y se encontró con María en diferentes ocasiones hasta que fue a cuidar a su tío enfermó, al igual que María fue a cuidar a Isabel. María se le apareció a Juan Diego en el camino para decirle que su tío estaba curado. Luego realizó un milagro para ayudar a convencer al Arzobispo de construir una pequeña capilla donde se realizaran las apariciones. Al igual que el milagro del nacimiento de Jesús inició la construcción del cristianismo.

Con la Navidad tan cerca, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe nos llama a reflexionar sobre los inicios humildes de la Iglesia y cómo debemos reflexionar sobre la propia fe para poder responder al llamado de Dios y decirle sí.

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Ben Hooper is originally from Maryland, having been adopted from Korea and growing up in the Catholic faith. He went to Franciscan University to dive deeper into his faith and eventually graduated with a degree in Business Management. He loves musical theater, sports, spending time with his fiancé Lily and their dog Kolbe.

Feature Image Credit: Cindy Kiernicki, https://art.diocesan.com/stock-photo/st-juan-diego-13902/