What do you do when faced with choices? In one of the Gospel choices for this Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mary faced a choice: stay home and get ready for her own baby or go to her kinswoman Elizabeth and lend assistance. Not only did she opt to help, but also traveled in haste. My favorite artistic depiction of this story is Br. Mickey McGrath’s colorful Windsock Visitation. Two women who say “yes” in the face of the unbelievable and their children leap for joy. The Americas rejoice as we celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe, remembering how she chose a simple peasant, Juan Diego, to carry her message to the bishop. May Mary watch over the “peasants” of our time with tenderness and love. Like Mary, may we say “yes” in the face of the impossible and hasten to show compassion to those in need.

—Susan Kusz, SND serves as Associate Director at the Jesuit Retreat House in Oshkosh, WI.