The Archdiocese of Manila is the oldest diocese in the Philippines, created in 1579 as a diocese and elevated as a metropolitan archdiocese in 1595. Manila was established as a suffragan diocese of Mexico in 1579 by Pope Gregory XIII. Hence many of the Mexican devotions were brought here to the Philippines. One of the devotions brought to the Philippines was the devotion to Our Lady who appeared in Guadalupe, Mexico.

According to the story, it was a winter’s day in 1531 when the Virgin Mary first appeared to Juan Diego, a peasant, as he was crossing a hillside near present-day Mexico City. She appeared as a dark-skinned woman who spoke Nahuatui, Juan Diego’s native language. This woman asked Juan Diego to build her a little house, a casita, on the hill. Twice Juan Diego reported this to his local bishop, who didn’t believe him. The second time, the bishop asked for proof of the apparitions. Juan Diego brought rare Castilian Roses to the Bishop in the clothes which eventually became the Tilma.

Tomorrow we will celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe, who is the Patron Saint of the unborn. Now more than ever we need her intercession because babies now are looked at as added cost, added responsibility, and limitations to freedom. Further, it is argued that at the start of conception it is now human life but a tissue or blood, hence can be aborted. According to the WHO, as of this week,k there have already been 42,504,953 abortions since the start of 2024.

The Gospel reminds us of three things:

1. God has a plan. When Adam and Eve sinned, the very first promise was to send a Messiah. The Messiah was to be born of a Virgin. That Virgin was singled out to be Mary. Like Mary, God has a plan for each life and therefore there is no life that is an accident.
2. With God everything is possible. Why does Angel Gabriel show up to wait for Mary’s yes? With God, everything is possible. How does Mary conceive through the Holy Spirit? With God, everything is possible. How does Elizabeth, old and barren, get pregnant. With God everything is possible. How are we going to support this baby? With God all is possible.
3. God can be trusted. The yes of Mary was difficult. How do I explain this conception to Joseph? To Joakim and Ann? To the neighbors and relatives? In fact, Mary could have been stoned to death. Her yes, meant only God can be trusted. For us, we will never be exempted from hardships, trials, storms, and pain in life. Yet, God can be trusted in all of these.

My dear friends as we celebrate Mass, may we realize that nowadays life is cheap. A person can be killed just like that;  a person can be maligned and cursed just like that; a life can discarded and set aside just like that.

We pray that we look at life, look at a baby, and look at conception the way God did:

• Each life is a miracle and hence with God all is possible
• Each life brings joy even in difficult times because God can be trusted
• Each life has a purpose and mission because God has a plan.