The Daily Devotional
Friday, December 12, 2025
He Lifts Up the Lowly: An Advent Reflection with Our Lady of Guadalupe
“He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.” — Luke 1:52–53
Introduction
On December 12, many Christians across the Americas celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, remembering Mary’s 1531 appearance to St. Juan Diego—a humble Indigenous man living outside the halls of power. Her message was simple yet world-shaking: God sees the poor, comforts the afflicted, and comes close to the lowly. During Advent, when we await Christ’s coming, her story echoes the Magnificat—Mary’s beautiful, prophetic song that proclaims God’s justice, mercy, and reversal of human inequalities. Today’s devotional weaves Guadalupe’s tenderness with Mary’s ancient words of hope.
Reflection
Mary’s Magnificat is not a quiet hymn—it is a thunderous proclamation wrapped in gentle humility. Her words remind us that God’s heart is with the overlooked, the pushed aside, the ones the world assumes are insignificant. It is no coincidence that when Mary appeared at Tepeyac, she chose a place outside the city, speaking through an Indigenous messenger who had no worldly clout. God delights in lifting up those who think they have little to offer.
An everyday illustration of this truth often plays out in simple moments. Imagine walking into a grocery store during the holiday season: long lines, hurried shoppers, overflowing carts. In the middle of the chaos, an employee—perhaps a young stocker or an elder working part-time—quietly helps an overwhelmed parent reach something on the top shelf or stops to greet someone with a gentle smile. Their small act changes the entire tone of the moment. It is not the managers or the loudest customers who make the difference—it's the unnoticed person showing unexpected kindness. That is the very pattern of God’s kingdom: strength revealed in gentleness, glory found in humility, hope arriving through those the world often overlooks.
Our Lady of Guadalupe embodies this pattern. She came not to the palace, but to a hillside. Not to a cleric or governor, but to Juan Diego—soft-spoken, faithful, and poor. Through him she delivered a message for the whole world: God’s compassion bends low to lift up the suffering and to announce that Christ draws near to the brokenhearted.
Application
Today, consider who in your world feels unseen. It may be a coworker, a cashier, a neighbor, or someone within your own family. Advent invites us to do what God does—to notice, to honor, and to lift up. Offer a word of encouragement, a moment of patience, or a small act of generosity. Let someone know they matter. In doing so, you participate in the very song Mary sang and the message Guadalupe proclaimed.
Conclusion
On this feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we are reminded that God’s kingdom does not advance through power or prestige, but through humble love. Mary’s Magnificat still resounds: God lifts up the lowly, fills the hungry, and brings hope to the oppressed. As we continue our Advent waiting, may we listen to that song anew and become instruments of its mercy.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, as we honor Our Lady of Guadalupe today, open our hearts to the message she brought—Your nearness to the lowly, Your justice for the oppressed, and Your compassion for the poor. Teach us to see as You see and to love as You love. Lift up our spirits where we are weary, and help us lift others who feel forgotten. May Mary’s song of hope become our own as we await Your coming with joy, humility, and expectant faith. Amen.
Devotional by: Kenny Sallee, ThM — Deming, NM, USA
The Bible texts are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible (NRSV)© 1989, 1993, the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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