Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe: Now what?
December 12, 2024 | Sr. Misty Garriga, C.D.P | Today’s Readings
“Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed.” Rev. 12:10
I am privileged to be able to work with the men on Death Row at the Polunsky Unit in Livingston, Texas. This past September, I sat across from Travis Mullis who was to be executed the next day. Along with Fr. Joseph Sigur and Deacon Steve Sellers, we were offering a final Mass before his execution, a final dose of hope, mercy, and sacramental love. In the words of Deacon Sellers, “It’s all part of God’s amazing grace, and we get a front row seat to deal with the things the Lord has put upon our hearts.”
In spite of the crimes that condemned them to death, these men are our brothers in Christ who also are gifted the graces of God’s mercy. God loves them just as much as God loves each of us.
As we left the prison, I felt helpless, empty, and a bit numb. My first thought was, “Now what?” We left with the trust and hope in our faith that Travis will be with Jesus in the next 24 hours, just as the repentant thief was promised. Yet how are we to just leave and go back to our normal lives without being forever changed?
As we approach this Jubilee Year of 2025 with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” and also celebrate this Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, I am reminded of how Juan Diego was used to be that message of hope and mercy to the people of the Americas in 1531.
History tells us that people endured many acts of evil, notable disrespect of the sanctity of all creation, dehumanization, and unnecessary killing as the Americas were colonized. But at the same time, signs of light could be found.
Juan Diego never imagined that he, of all people, would be at the center of this message of hope. In his “Now what?” moment, Juan Diego took a risk. Filled with trust in God and Our Lady of Guadalupe, Juan Diego moved forward holding onto the divine gift of love and hope and became a radical gift for all of us.
Our Lady of Guadalupe gives witness to the miracle that the ordinary can be extraordinary. During the season of Advent, Our Lady of Guadalupe points to our limitless God, one that does not fit within our human limitations. I think of those times I’ve walked with men to their execution and sat with their families the day of and asked “Now what?” We are invited to hold on to the message of hope shared by Our Lady of Guadalupe.
God worked through Juan Diego in 1531 and God continues to work through those of us who advocate to abolish the death penalty and bring hope in 2024. This Advent, may our “Now what?” include living the virtues of Advent: hope, peace, joy and love.
Reflection Author: Sr. Mistry Garriga, C.D.P.
Sister Misty Garriga is a Sister of Divine Providence from San Antonio, TX, who is currently the Director of Criminal Justice Ministries for the Diocese of Beaumont. She oversees and coordinates the schedules for weekly Mass and Catholic programs in 10 state prison units and the Federal Correction Complex unit in the diocese, including the Polunsky Unit that houses the men’s Death Row in Livingston, TX. She along with Deacon Steve Sellers has worked with several of the Catholic men who have faced execution.