Homily for Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration: December 2, 2007

Given by the Most Reverend Stephen E. Blaire at the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Stockton.

The great prophet Isaiah spoke these words: Come, let us climb the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.

The Lord’s mountain is for all peoples. All who come will find God. All who climb the mountain will see by faith the God of all creation and the God of salvation. It is from the mountain that God instructs us in his ways so that we may walk in his paths. It is from Tepeyac that Mary brought the message from God to Juan Diego that she is a mother for all peoples – the theme of this year’s Guadalupe procession. As our mother, she prays for us that we hear the message of God and that we live our lives faithful to God. It is her prayer and her profound wish that all peoples come to the mountain of God. That they come to hear that all the human family belongs to one God and Father. This loving God wills that all people be treated with the greatest respect in thei r dignity as human beings.

Unfortunately there are some people who do not want to come to the mountain. They know that to love God they must love their neighbor and they rather be hateful to the poor and to the immigrant especially toward those who have no papers to document their legalization. The Church is the friend of the immigrant. The Church is a church of immigrants. Indeed she recognizes the importance of border security. She does not propose illegal immigration. But she understands why people migrate to feed their families and to improve their lives. While many public persons are afraid at this time to speak in behalf of the immigrant, the Church strongly raises her voice in the light of the gospel to call for comprehensive immigration reform of a broken system which does nobody any good in this country.

The Bishops of California have prepared a statement on the need for immigration reform and for the pastoral care of all immigrants regardless of their legal status. I will release this statement in our diocese on December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the patroness of the United States.

Today we gather under the banner of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Queen of the Americas and the Mother of all peoples. With the Virgin Mary we come to the Lord’s mountain. In the words of Paul to the Romans, we throw off the works of darkness; we put on the armor of light; we conduct ourselves properly as in the day; and we put on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Last Update December 1, 2007