Lifting Up the Lowly
by Ellen Romer Niemiec
God has lifted up the lowly.
Mary saw herself as lowly - just a betrothed young woman, living in a small town in an occupied land.
Gabriel brings her the gift of good news. Who, me? The lowly one?
She learns now and will know forever - nothing is impossible with God.
God has lifted up the lowly.
Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe, shares this same gift with Juan Diego.
Who, me? The lowly one?
Could he believe what was in front of him? Would Mary really appear to an indigenous, peasant man? Why would Mary choose someone so lowly?
God has lifted up the lowly.
Who, me? The lowly one?
They didn’t believe me. I tried. I just can’t. I am just the lowly one.
Take these flowers. I will not leave you wanting, my lowly chosen one.
God has lifted up the lowly.
Mary, the lowly servant. Juan Diego, the lowly servant. Me, the lowly servant.
The gift she gives to us: we may see ourselves as lowly, but we are who God desires. What we cannot imagine, God brings to life. For nothing is impossible with God.
Ellen Romer Niemiec, MDiv, serves at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, where she is also pursuing her Doctor of Ministry in Spirituality. In addition to writing, she is passionate about cooking and adventures with her partner and three children.
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