Service of Lament and Hope - Reflection by Rev. Gilbert Martinez - Christ Church UCC Des Plaines

On this same day, many honor the Virgin of Guadalupe. Holy image, not of wealth or power, but of a brown-skinned mother, appearing to an indigenous man named Juan Diego, in a place of grief and fear. She does not appear to kings or priests. She appears to the one who is overlooked. She speaks in his language. She stands with him against systems that try to crush his people. [00:01:29] (33 seconds)  #BrownSkinnedMother

In a world where ice raves break families apart, where people live with the terror of detention and deportation, where the stranger is treated with suspicion instead of compassion. Our Lady of Guadalupe speaks directly into our grief. She reminds us that God draws near, not to the mighty halls of power, but to the weary, the fearful, the immigrant, the outcast, the ones who dare to hope for a better tomorrow. [00:02:13] (35 seconds)  #GuadalupeWithTheWeary

Not love the strangers only if they have the correct paperwork. Not love the stranger only if they post no risk. Not love the stranger only if it's politically safe. Just love the stranger. Honor their dignity. Protect their life. See your own stories in theirs. This is a gospel's call. This is a courage of Mary's song. This is a tenderness of Guadalupe's mantle. [00:03:32] (41 seconds)  #LoveTheStrangerUnconditionally

So tonight we lament the fear in immigrant homes, the cruelty people endure in detention centers, the children who cry themselves to sleep, families who live with a constant threat of separation. But we also breathe hope. Because the God Mary sings about is still lifting up the lonely. The God who appeared to Juan Diego in the image of Mary is still standing with the vulnerable. [00:04:13] (36 seconds)  #LamentAndLiftHope

It goes back to the things that we should know and we should have compassion. It's seeing ourselves in that person. And in the image of the vivre in the Guadalupe, Juan Diego was able to see a reflection of himself. See, she didn't just do it because she wanted to. She didn't just say, hey God, I'll be back. Many people think that, particularly Catholics, worship Mary. That's not the case. [00:05:14] (42 seconds)  #SeeYourselfInTheOther

I know for my colleagues, it probably has not been easy being a female pastor. I know a couple of younger female pastors that have been treated like they're the assistant or the server when there's predominantly males in the room who says, can you get us some coffee? But here's a woman that we don't talk to as such. We lift her up. We give her thanks for saying yes. [00:06:58] (39 seconds)  #HonorFemalePastors

How many times this year have you not read or heard there's no love like Christian love? I see it at least once a day on social media. And that's not praising us as Christians. That's saying there's so much hate that others are seeing. And that should not be the case. Just like Mary, our mother, who was gifted to us by Jesus on the cross, we should aim to be motherly with each other. [00:11:41] (44 seconds)  #MakeChristianLoveReal

Just like Mary, our mother, who was gifted to us by Jesus on the cross, we should aim to be motherly with each other. If you're down, comfort each other. if you need food, help them. May our lament deepen our compassion. May our compassion become courage. And may our courage open a light, safe, sacred welcome for all who seek refuge. [00:12:13] (35 seconds)  #MotherlyCompassion