Holy Week and Triduum (Semana Santa)

Well good people, I survived my first Holy Week in Mexico.  It was a very interesting week with many twists and turns.  The house was very quiet since most of the community went to present a Mission in the south of Mexico.  Because most people were going to be away, I took the liberty of changing my time for classes.  I went to school first thing in the morning.  I usually left the house around 7:15am in order to catch the bus and walk to school.  My classes went from 9am-12:30pm from Tuesday to Thursday.  After class I stayed around the center of town for a bit to do some more sight seeing and to explore a bit more.  Many people are off during Holy Week, and primary and secondary schools are closed for all of Holy Week and all of Easter Week.  As the week continued, more and more people were in the center of town, and there was much traffic on the roads.  Many Mexicans travel during this time, so just as many people left Queretaro for other parts of Mexico, many people came to Mexico to either visit family or be here for the high holy days. 

On Wednesday, I downloaded a "step" app in order to track how many steps one takes in a day.  On the first day, I hoped to achieve my goal of 10,000 steps and I did so quite easily.  Each day I have increased my goal and exceeded the goal.  Walking to and from the bus to school really helps!  I hope to exceed 100,000 steps by this Wednesday and try to keep that as my goal.  The weather here has warmed up, so walking outside is actually quite nice and relaxing.  I actually have to put some sunscreen on to prevent sunburn!  There is nothing like being outdoors, for me, it really changes my perspective and makes me feel healthier. 

Thursday began the celebration of the Triduum.  I concelebrated at one of our Chapels in Via Dorado.  I preached on Holy Thursday and the people seemed to enjoy it.  On Holy Thursday we commemorate the institution of the Eucharist and the ritual of the washing of the feet.  During the washing of the feet, there was a good cross section of parishioners  participating in the ritual (men, women, young and old) but the one thing that I found interesting was that Fr. Raymundo also used soap to wash their feet.  I'm not sure if its a Mexican thing or a Fr. Raymundo thing, but we certainly don't use soap as part of the ritual in the US!

Good Friday saw a whole lot of pageantry! There were processions, acting out of the passion, Via Dolorosa, A special Good Friday Rosary, and the typical Good Friday Service with the Veneration of the Cross.  The place was packed! The Latino culture really likes Good Friday (sometimes more than Easter).  It was a fast day and a day of abstinence for all of us...yes I was hungry!!!!  I also spent some quiet time in our chapel reading a book, The Seven Last Words: An Invitation to a Deeper Friendship with Jesus (Martin, 2015).  It was an edited version of a talk he gave at St. Patrick's Cathedral last year.  It was inspiring, short, and exactly what I needed to center myself on this very important day.  I have my Provincial to thank for the book!

I also concelebrated at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday.  Fr. Raymundo had another Vigil to go to at 9pm.  We started close to 7pm with the lighting and blessing of the fire.  I don't think they believe in tapers here in Mexico, because you should have seen the drama trying to light the Paschal Candle! We listened to all the reading and sang the appropriate response after each reading.  As we were ready to hear the New Testament reading, the lights came on and the Choir began singing the Gloria.  The Church bells rang throughout the entire Gloria, accompanied by fireworks and popping balloons that were strung on the walls and ceiling throughout the Church.  A purple cloth that acted as curtain in the sanctuary was taken down to reveal a statue of the Risen Jesus all in white surrounded by flowers and bright colors.  Again, I don't think you are going to find this in the US! Well, it actually worked, because the mood certainly changed in the Church as we were ready to hear the Epistle and the Resurrection Story.  Fr. Raymundo preached and even reminded the community what I preached about on Holy Thursday...and both he and they actually remembered my words- Go Figure!  We blessed the Easter water, renewed our baptismal promises  and sprinkled the Church with lots of water!  By this time it was almost 8:40, so Fr. Raymundo left and I took over...again, not quite sure this would hold mustard with the liturgical police!  But, you do what you have to do!  I continued praying the Eucharistic Prayer and distributed Communion.  The choir was singing a great song during Communion, so I  invited the community to sing it again with great gusto...after at it was Easter! We finished the Mass and continued to sing for another 15 minutes! It was a great way to share the joy of the resurrection. 

Today (Easter Sunday) I once again had Mass at the same chapel and we had a great Mass.  At 11am there were very few people there as we began the Mass, but by the end of the First Reading, the place was packed!  There were many Amen's during this Mass and a few sung Alleluia's too.  At the end of the Mass, one of the women in charge of the Chapel commented to me that my Spanish was really getting better...boy did that make me feel good! After Mass, I walked back to the community and then went for a good 3 mile walk trying to get my steps in for today.  I cooked a little something for myself and actually took a nap today...something I rarely do, but I was really tired for some reason.  I think the Brothers will return to the community tomorrow night and then our life will get back to normal around here. 

All in all, it was a good week.  I enjoyed the freedom of not having a strict schedule and feel like I made a contribution to the Solemnity and Joy of the these Holy Days.  The quiet during the week was also good for me to reflect, ponder, and pray.  I hope all of you had a prayerful and joyous Holy Week.  May we enter into this Easter Season with joyful hearts!  I leave you with my homilies for Holy Thursday and Easter Sunday.  Many hugs!!!

Holy Thursday Homily

Good evening Church! Well, we are finally here.  We gather together to celebrate the Church’s highest holy days over the next three days.  It is good for us to be here, Amen?  Tonight is a special night.  Tonight we celebrate the institution of the Eucharist and the Washing of the Feet.  The Word of God this night reminds us that together: We remember, we celebrate, we believe.  Yes, we remember, we celebrate, we believe….repeat after me…we remember, we celebrate, we believe.  Turn to the person next to you and say, Very good friend!

And so the first part of the phrase is: We remember.  What do we remember?  Well, we remember that tonight is part of our history and part of the history of Jesus.  We remember that the Last Supper was a meal that commemorated the Passover meal.  Jesus, a good Jew, celebrated the Passover meal with his friends.  Jesus remembered the story of his people who went from slavery to freedom because of the help of God.  Jesus remembered the freedom that only God can give His people.  The Book of Exodus recounts for us how the Passover meal was to be prepared and shared in community.  Jesus remembered that event when he celebrated with his friends.  We remember the Last Supper when we celebrate Holy Thursday.  Tonight allows us to remember that we are part of a story, part of a tradition, part of a family of ancestors.  Tonight we remember that we are connected to one another through this event and through this great story.  Tonight we celebrate our meal together in community.  Tonight, We remember.  This is not just any night, this is the night that Jesus gave us the Eucharist and told us to be of service to one another when we wash one another’s feet.  Tonight we remember that our faith only makes sense when we gather together in community and share in the actions of Jesus with one another, Amen? 

The second part of the phrase is: We celebrate.  What do we celebrate? Well, we celebrate the fact that Jesus did not leave us orphan.  He gave us a gift.  He gave us his body and his blood.  He let us know that we can be nourished by him each time we gather together in community and celebrate the Eucharist.  Tonight we celebrate that we do not have to go hungry.  Tonight we celebrate the words of Jesus as told to us by Saint Paul, “Take and eat, take and drink”.  Tonight we celebrate that we are a people of the Word and Sacrament.  Tonight we celebrate that faith is shared when we celebrate a meal.  As Saint Paul stated, “Every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until He comes.”  Tonight we celebrate the promise that we proclaim the death of the Lord each time we participate in the Eucharist.  We celebrate that we are part of a tradition that goes back to the time of Jesus.  Tonight we celebrate the gift that the Eucharist is to the Church, Amen?

The third part of the phrase is: We believe.  What do we believe?  Well, we believe in the healing power of the Eucharist.  We believe that the bread and wine is not ordinary bread and wine, but becomes the Body and Blood of Christ during the Eucharistic Prayer.  We believe that the Eucharist is a reminder and a sacrament of Jesus’ love for all of us.  We believe that this gift is meant to help us on our journey in faith.  We believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. We believe that the host and the wine are not just symbols of what happened at the Last Supper, but are truly transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ through the words of the priest and through the faith of the people.  Do you believe this?  As Catholics we believe this.  As Catholics we should receive the Eucharist more, not because we are worthy, but because we need the Eucharist in our life.  I need the Eucharist.  I believe that I am different because I receive the Eucharist, and I do think that I would be different if I stayed away from receiving the sacrament for a long time.  Tonight we believe that the Eucharist is food for our journey.  Tonight we believe that we need the Eucharist in order to live life more abundantly.  As Jesus celebrated the notion of moving from slavery to freedom at the Passover meal, when we celebrate and receive the Eucharist, we too celebrate our freedom from the slavery of sin.  The Eucharist makes us free.  Do you want to be free? 

But tonight, we also hear in the Gospel another action that is important for believers.  Jesus taught his disciples and continues to teach us, that if we want to be his disciples, then we must get on our hands and knees and wash one another’s feet.  This action is not holy nor pious.  It is real.  It is dirty.  It is smelly.  It is unattractive.  If we are to be his disciples, we have to get involved in the “mess” of people’s lives.  When we do this action, then we are truly his disciples.  In the Gospel of John, this action is another way of being Eucharist for one another.  In all the other Gospels, at the Last Supper, Jesus gives us the Eucharist in the form of bread and wine.  In John’s Gospel, there is no bread and wine in the story.  The only thing we have in this story is the washing of the feet.  Jesus tells his disciples,” If I, the master and teacher have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet.  I have given you an example to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”  In the Gospel of John, the Eucharist, is the action of washing one another’s feet.  So tonight, we believe that we celebrate the Eucharist when we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus, and when we wash one another’s feet.  We believe in receiving and giving.  That is our faith.  We need both.  We must be men and women who freely receive and who freely give.  These actions make us free to be disciples of Jesus, Amen?

So tonight: We remember, we celebrate, we believe.  We remember that we are part of a history, that we are connected to our ancestors in faith each time we do our ritual actions.  We celebrate the gift of the Eucharist in our lives and that this gift reminds us that Jesus is always present with and to us.  We believe that we are people who receive and give each time we receive the Eucharist and each time we take action in the lives of our sisters and brothers.  And most of all: We remember, we celebrate, we believe, all as a community of believers.  We do not do this alone.  We are called together as disciples to do and say the things that Jesus commanded us.  Yes today is Holy Thursday.  It is not ordinary Thursday.  It is a night where we remember, we celebrate and we believe.  We do this together, and we do this with great hope and joy, Amen?

Santo Jueves Homilía

Buenas noches Iglesia! Bueno, por fin estamos aquí. Nos reunimos para celebrar más altos días santos de la Iglesia durante los próximos tres días. Es bueno para nosotros que estemos aquí, Amén? Esta noche es una noche especial. Esta noche se celebra la institución de la Eucaristía y el lavatorio de los pies. La Palabra de Dios esta noche nos recuerda que en conjunto: Recordamos,  Celebramos,  Creemos. Sí, recordamos, celebramos, creemos... .Repita después de mí ... recordamos, celebramos,  creemos. Girar a la persona a tu lado y decir, muy buen amigo!

Y por lo que la primera parte de la frase es: Recordamos. ¿Qué recordamos? Bueno, recordamos que esta noche es parte de nuestra historia y parte de la historia de Jesús. Recordamos que la Última Cena fue una comida que conmemorar la Pascua. Jesús, un buen judío, que se celebra la Pascua con sus amigos. Jesús recordó la historia de su pueblo que fue de la esclavitud a la libertad gracias a la ayuda de Dios. Jesús recordó la libertad que sólo Dios puede dar a su pueblo. El libro de Éxodo nos relata cómo la comida de la Pascua debía ser preparada y compartida en comunidad. Jesús recordó ese evento cuando se celebró con sus amigos. Recordamos la última cena en que se celebra el Jueves Santo. Esta noche nos permite recordar que somos parte de una historia, parte de una tradición, que forma parte de una familia de antepasados. Esta noche nos recuerda que estamos conectados entre sí a través de este evento y por medio de esta gran historia. Esta noche celebramos nuestra comida juntos en comunidad. Esta noche, recordamos. Esto no es sólo una noche cualquiera, esta es la noche que Jesús nos dio la Eucaristía y nos dijo que estar al servicio de unos a otros cuando nos lavamos los pies unos a otros. Esta noche nos recuerda que nuestra fe sólo tiene sentido cuando nos reunimos en comunidad y participación en las acciones de Jesús con otros, Amén?

La segunda parte de la frase es: Celebramos. ¿Qué celebramos? Bueno, celebramos el hecho de que Jesús no nos dejó huérfano. Él nos dio un regalo. Él nos dio su cuerpo y su sangre. Él nos hizo saber que podemos ser alimentados por él cada vez que nos reunimos en comunidad y celebrar la Eucaristía. Esta noche celebramos que no tenemos que pasar hambre. Esta noche celebramos las palabras de Jesús como dijo a nosotros por San Pablo, "Tomen y coman, tomen y beban". Esta noche celebramos que somos un pueblo de la Palabra y Sacramento. Esta noche celebramos que la fe es compartida en que se celebra una comida. Como San Pablo declaró: "Cada vez que Uds. comen de este pan y beben de este cáliz, proclaman la muerte del Señor hasta que vuelva." Esta noche celebramos la promesa de que proclamamos la muerte del Señor cada vez que participamos en la Eucaristía. Celebramos que somos parte de una tradición que se remonta a la época de Jesús. Esta noche celebramos el don que la Eucaristía es a la Iglesia, Amén?

La tercera parte de la frase es: Creemos. ¿En qué creemos? Bueno, creemos en el poder curativo de la Eucaristía. Creemos que el pan y el vino no son pan y vino ordinario, pero se convierte en el Cuerpo y la Sangre de Cristo durante la oración eucarística. Creemos que la Eucaristía es un recordatorio y un sacramento del amor de Jesús por todos nosotros. Creemos que este regalo es para ayudarnos en nuestro camino de fe. Creemos en la presencia real de Jesús en la Eucaristía. Creemos que la hostia y el vino no son sólo símbolos de lo sucedido en la última cena, pero son realmente transformados en el Cuerpo y la Sangre de Cristo a través de las palabras del sacerdote y por medio de la fe de las personas. ¿Creen ustedes esto? Como católicos creemos que esto.

Como católicos deben recibir la Eucaristía más, no porque somos dignos, sino porque necesitamos la Eucaristía en nuestra vida. Yo Necesito la Eucaristía. Creo que soy diferente porque recibo la Eucaristía, y yo creo que iba a ser diferente si me quedaba lejos de recibir el sacramento durante mucho tiempo. Esta noche creemos que la Eucaristía es alimento para nuestro camino. Esta noche creemos que es necesaria la Eucaristía con el fin de vivir la vida en abundancia. Como Jesús celebró la idea de pasar de la esclavitud a la libertad en la cena de la Pascua, en el que celebramos y recibimos la Eucaristía, nosotros también celebramos nuestra libertad de la esclavitud del pecado. La Eucaristía nos hace libres. ¿Uds. Quieren ser libre?

Pero esta noche, también escuchar en el Evangelio otra acción que es importante para los creyentes. Jesús enseñó a sus discípulos y continúa enseñándonos, que si queremos ser sus discípulos, entonces debemos tener en nuestras manos y rodillas y lavarse los pies unos a otros. Esta acción no es santo ni pío. Es real. Está sucio. Es maloliente. Es poco atractivo. Si vamos a ser sus discípulos, tenemos que participar en el "desorden" de la vida de las personas. Cuando hacemos esta acción, entonces somos verdaderamente sus discípulos. En el Evangelio de Juan, esta acción es otra forma de ser Eucaristía uno por el otro. En todos los otros Evangelios, en la última cena, Jesús nos da la Eucaristía en la forma de pan y vino. En el Evangelio de Juan, no hay pan y el vino en la historia. La única cosa que tenemos en esta historia es el lavatorio de los pies. Jesús dice a sus discípulos: "Si yo, que soy el Señor y el Maestro les he lavado los pies, también ustedes deben lavarse los pies los unos a otros. Les he dado ejemplo para que lo que yo he hecho con ustedes, también ustedes lo hagan.”  En el Evangelio de Juan, la Eucaristía, es la acción de lavar los pies los unos a los otros. Así que esta noche, creemos que se celebra la Eucaristía cuando recibimos el Cuerpo y la Sangre de Jesús, y cuando nos lavamos los pies unos a otros. Creemos en recibir y dar. Esa es nuestra fe. Necesitamos ambas cosas. Tenemos que ser hombres y mujeres que reciben libremente y que libremente dan. Estas acciones nos hacen libres para ser discípulos de Jesús, Amén?

Así que esta noche: Recordamos, Celebramos, Creemos. Recordamos que somos parte de una historia, que estamos conectados con nuestros antepasados en la fe cada vez que hacemos nuestras acciones rituales. Celebramos el don de la Eucaristía en nuestras vidas y que este don nos recuerda que Jesús siempre está presente con y para nosotros. Creemos que somos personas que reciben y dan cada vez que recibimos la Eucaristía y cada vez que tomamos la acción en la vida de nuestros hermanos y hermanas. Y sobre todo: Recordamos, celebramos, creemos, todos como una comunidad de creyentes. No hacemos esto por sí solo. Estamos llamados juntos como discípulos a hacer y decir las cosas que Jesús nos ha mandado. Si hoy es Jueves Santo. No es jueves ordinario. Es una noche donde recordamos, celebramos y creemos. Hacemos esto juntos, y lo hacemos con gran esperanza y alegría, Amén?

Easter Sunday Homily

Good morning Church! Happy Easter! Today we are filled with joy, Amen?  Today, we once again are able to sing our Alleluia’s and rejoice in the resurrection of the Lord, Amen?  We are an Easter people, and Alleluia is our song!  (Easter Alleluia).  Come on Church, let’s raise our voices!

Today is a day of great joy.  During the last three days we reflected on the passion and death of Jesus.  Today, we focus on the resurrection of Jesus.  If we only focused on the passion and death of Jesus, the story of Jesus would be extremely sad, Amen?  And yet the story is sad, but hopeful.  Reflecting on what Jesus did for each of us, his suffering and death, is inspirational, Amen?  If you are like me, maybe you think, “Who am I that Jesus is mindful of me?” Yes, the thought of Jesus dying for me is awesome.  But the fact that Jesus rose from the dead is even more important!  This action, rising from the dead, tells all believers that there will always be hope when we believe in the Lord, Amen?  And where there is hope, there is joy, Amen?  So, we are all called to be joyous and hopeful people, Amen?  Turn to the person next to you and say, “ I’ve got the joy of the Lord”  For, we are an Easter people, and Alleluia is our song! (Easter Alleluia).

Peter reminds us in the Acts of the Apostles the story of Jesus of Nazareth.  He tells of his life, his passion, his death and his resurrection.   We are to be witnesses to all parts of this story.  A witness tells a story.  Sisters and brothers in the Lord, we are all called to be witnesses.  Not just the priests or religious. All are called to be witnesses.  To testify to the truth of Jesus Christ in our lives.  And what is the truth of Jesus in your life?  Can you tell a good story about the power of Jesus in your life?  Do you know enough about Jesus to be a witness for him?  The term witness is a term that is used in the court of law.  A witness testifies on behalf of someone.  They are reminded to tell the truth when they tell the story.  A witness discusses evidence either for or against a person.  The word of the witness can either convict or set free a person.  It has been said in the past that if you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence against you to convict you?  In other words, is it obvious in your life, from your words and actions, that you are a follower of Jesus?  Could you be convicted of being a disciple of his?  That is what the Easter season is about.  It is about growing in our faith and making that faith public and convincing so that we can be guilty of being disciples of Jesus.   Who here is guilty of being a disciple?  Can I get a witness?  If you are a disciple of Jesus, say Amen.  We gather as witnesses to the resurrection, for we are an Easter people, and Alleluia is our song, Amen? (Easter Alleluia)

And just as the disciples of long ago needed to continue the work of Jesus and build up the body of Christ, the Church, so too do we build up the Church.  We are to be leaven in the world.  Our role is to raise up those who are bowed down.  We are to make others grow because of our faith and our hope in the risen Lord.  Just like yeast makes bread rise, we too help others to grow and rise in their lives.  Yeast is one of those ingredients that is important in a recipe.  It almost always goes unnoticed, but when it is not in a cake recipe, everyone knows it.  The batter does not rise and then you may have a cookie rather than a cake.  We are to be yeast in our world.  In some ways, we go unnoticed, but when we are not part of the lives of others, it is noticeable.  We must lend our voices to one another and support one another so that we may grow and rise in our faith,
Amen?  For we are an Easter people, and Alleluia is our song. (Easter Alleluia)

And today, we hear one of many resurrection stories found in the Gospel.  The Gospel of Saint John holds a special place for Mary of Magdala.  Mary is a witness to the resurrection and proclaims the news to the other disciples.  Mary went to the tomb early in the morning.  She noticed that the rock was rolled away.  She ran back to the disciples to tell them of the news.  She tells Peter and the beloved disciple the news about the empty tomb.  Peter and the beloved disciple run to the tomb to check on Mary’s story.  There, inside the tomb, the burial cloths were laid inside the tomb.  Jesus was not there, and he left behind the burial cloths.  Now remember in the same Gospel, we have the story of Lazarus.  In the story of Lazarus, when Jesus calls Lazarus forth from the tomb, he comes out in this burial cloths and Jesus tells the people to untie him.  Jesus is not bound by the burial cloths.  His rising from the dead is different from Lazarus being brought back to life.  The beloved disciple sees the burial cloths lying in the tomb and he believes in the resurrection.  Seeing is believing! The beloved disciple believed because he heard the story from Mary and saw the cloths there in the empty tomb.  There is great action and drama in this story.  There is an immediacy to the actions of the disciples, they do not walk, but rather, they run to find out what happened.  Even though Jesus told his disciples that he would die and rise again on the third day, at first it was not clear to his disciples what happened.  Was the body stolen? After seeing the burial cloths, the beloved disciple believed, and then helped others to believe.  When we see and believe, we must then help others to believe, Amen? What an incredible story of faith.  Witnesses, hope, joy, encouragement and belief.  That’s what this day is about, Amen? 

As we go from this Church into our homes, our town, our work, our city, let our joy and hope give us the courage we need to be witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus.  Let us run, like Mary, Peter, and the beloved disciple, to look for Jesus in our world.  Let our words and actions bring others closer to Jesus and to his holy Church.  When we live the Word of God today, we will be witnesses of Jesus.  When we live with joy, then we cannot help but sing out the praises of God, Amen?  For, we are an Easter people, and Alleluia is our song! (Easter Alleluia).

Homilía del Domingo de Pascua

Buenos días Iglesia! ¡Feliz Pascua! Hoy estamos llenos de alegría, Amén? Hoy, una vez más somos capaces de cantar nuestros aleluyas y regocijarse en la resurrección del Señor, Amén? Somos un pueblo Pascual, y aleluya es nuestra canción! (Aleluya de Pascua). Vamos Iglesia, vamos a levantar nuestras voces!

Hoy es un día de gran alegría. Durante los últimos tres días hemos reflexionado sobre la pasión y muerte de Jesús. Hoy en día, nos centramos en la resurrección de Jesús. Si sólo nos centramos en la pasión y muerte de Jesús, la historia de Jesús sería extremadamente triste, Amén? Y sin embargo, la historia es triste, pero esperanzador. Reflexionando sobre lo que Jesús hizo por cada uno de nosotros, su sufrimiento y muerte, es inspirador, Amén? Si ustedes es como yo, tal vez ustedes piensan, "¿Quién soy yo para que Jesús es consciente de mí?" Sí, el pensamiento de la muerte de Jesús para mí es impresionante. Pero el hecho de que Jesús se levantó de los muertos es aún más importante! Esta acción, pasando de los muertos, le dice a todos los creyentes que siempre habrá esperanza cuando creemos en el Señor, Amén? Y donde hay esperanza, hay alegría, Amén? Por lo tanto, todos estamos llamados a ser personas alegres y esperanzadores, Amén? Gira a la persona a tu lado y decir: "Tengo la alegría del Señor" Porque somos un pueblo Pascual, y Aleluya es nuestra canción! (Aleluya de Pascua).

Pedro nos recuerda en los Hechos de los Apóstoles la historia de Jesús de Nazaret. Habla de su vida, su pasión, su muerte y su resurrección. Debemos ser testigos de todas las partes de esta historia. Un testigo cuenta una historia. Hermanos y hermanas en el Señor, todos estamos llamados a ser testigos. No sólo los sacerdotes o religiosos. Todos están llamados a ser testigos. Para dar testimonio de la verdad de Jesucristo en nuestras vidas. Y lo que es la verdad de Jesús en su vida? ¿Se pueden contar una buena historia sobre el poder de Jesús en su vida? ¿Saben ustedes lo suficiente sobre Jesús para ser testigos suyos? El término testigo es un término que se utiliza en el tribunal de justicia. Un testigo declaró en nombre de otra. Se les recuerda a decir la verdad cuando dicen la historia. Un testigo discute la evidencia a favor o en contra de una persona. La palabra del testigo puede declarar culpable o sea puesto en libertad a una persona. Se ha dicho en el pasado que si usted fue arrestado por ser cristiano, ¿habría suficiente evidencia en su contra para condenarte? En otras palabras, ¿es evidente en su vida, de sus palabras y acciones, que usted es un seguidor de Jesús? ¿Podría ser condenado por ser un discípulo de él? Eso es lo que el tiempo de Pascua está a punto. Es sobre crecer en nuestra fe y hacer que la fe pública y convincente para que podamos ser culpable de ser discípulos de Jesús. ¿Quién de ustedes es culpable de ser un discípulo? ¿Puedo conseguir un testigo? Si ustedes son un discípulo de Jesús, decir Amén. Nos reunimos como testigos de la resurrección, porque somos un pueblo Pascual, y aleluya es nuestra canción, Amén? (Aleluya de Pascua)

Y al igual que los discípulos de antaño necesarios para continuar la obra de Jesús y la edificación del cuerpo de Cristo, la Iglesia, también lo hacen construimos la Iglesia. Hemos de ser levadura en el mundo. Nuestro papel es el de levantar a los que ya se doblan. Debemos hacer a otros a crecer debido a nuestra fe y nuestra esperanza en el Señor resucitado. Al igual que la levadura hace que el pan crezca, nosotros también ayudamos a otros a crecer y el aumento de sus vidas. La levadura es uno de los ingredientes que es importante en una receta. Casi siempre pasa desapercibido, pero cuando no está en una receta de pastel, todos lo saben. El masa de tarta no subir y es posible que tenga una galleta en lugar de un pastel. Hemos de ser levadura en nuestro mundo. En cierto modo, nos pasa desapercibido, pero cuando no somos parte de la vida de los demás, es notable. Debemos prestar nuestra voz a otros y apoyarse mutuamente para que podamos crecer y aumentar en nuestra fe, ¿Amén? Porque somos un pueblo Pascual, y Aleluya es nuestra canción. (Aleluya de Pascua)

Y hoy, oímos una de las muchas historias de la resurrección que se encuentran en el Evangelio. El Evangelio de San Juan tiene un lugar especial para María Magdalena. María es un testimonio de la resurrección y proclama la noticia a los otros discípulos. María fue a la tumba temprano en la mañana. Se dio cuenta de que la piedra había sido removida. Se pasó de nuevo a los discípulos para decirles de la noticia. Ella le dice a Pedro y el discípulo amado las noticias sobre la tumba vacía. Pedro y el discípulo amado correr a la tumba para comprobar en la historia de María. Allí, dentro de la tumba, las vendas en el suelo fueron colocados dentro de la tumba. Jesús no estaba allí, y se fue detrás de las vendas en el suelo. Ahora recuerde en el mismo Evangelio, tenemos la historia de Lázaro. En la historia de Lázaro, cuando Jesús llama a Lázaro de la tumba, que sale en este entierro paños y Jesús le dice a la gente a desatarlo. Jesús no está obligado por las vendas en el suelo. Su resurrección de los muertos es diferente de Lázaro siendo devuelto a la vida. El discípulo amado ve las vendas en el suelo tumbado en la tumba y que cree en la resurrección. ¡Ver es creer! El discípulo amado cree porque escuchó la historia de María y vio las vendas allí en la tumba vacía. Existe una gran acción y drama en esta historia. Hay una inmediatez a las acciones de los discípulos, que no caminan, sino más bien, corren para averiguar lo que pasó. A pesar de que Jesús dijo a sus discípulos que iba a morir y resucitar al tercer día, al principio no estaba claro a sus discípulos lo que pasó. Fue robado el cuerpo? Después de ver las vendas en el suelo, el discípulo amado cree, y luego ayudó a otros a creer. Cuando vemos y creemos, entonces tenemos que ayudar a los demás a creer, Amén? Qué increíble historia de fe. Testigos, la esperanza, la alegría, el estímulo y la creencia. Eso es lo que este día se trata, Amén?

Como vamos a partir de esta Iglesia en nuestros hogares, nuestra ciudad, nuestro trabajo, nuestra ciudad, dejar que nuestra alegría y la esperanza que nos da la fuerza que necesitamos para ser testigos de la resurrección de Jesús. Corramos, como María, Pedro y el discípulo amado, a buscar a Jesús en nuestro mundo. Deje que nuestras palabras y acciones acercar a otros a Jesús ya su santa Iglesia. Cuando vivimos la Palabra de Dios hoy, vamos a ser testigos de Jesús. Cuando vivimos con alegría, entonces no podemos dejar de cantar las alabanzas de Dios, Amén? Porque, somos un pueblo Pascual, y aleluya es nuestra canción! (Aleluya de Pascua).

Palm Sunday/Domingo de Ramos

Greetings folks! Today we begin Holy Week, and yes it will be an interesting time for me during this week.  If you know anything about the rituals of Holy Week, they are pretty complicated because there are many ritual actions, prayers, and readings that we only do once a year in the Church.  So, because we only do these yearly, it requires a review of the rituals beforehand just to navigate through each day.  Now, add doing them in another language and culture and you know that this man is going to be working overtime this week!

Most of the community left early Saturday morning to go to lead a mission in Oaxaca.  I woke up early to see them off.  I was out of bed at 4:30am and helped them finish making sandwiches for the 12 hour journey.  As the vans were packed, I led them in prayer and gave them a blessing.  They were happy that I did that for them.  They departed around 5:15am after waiting for another person who was definitely on Mexican time! So, that left the rest of the day to do laundry, do some reading and prepare my homily and read through the Passion several times so that I did not mess up (mispronounce) the words of Jesus during the reading of the Passion- I still did make a few mistakes!

During the week, I attended classes again from Tues-Thursday.  On Monday we had a community Lenten retreat and on Friday, we all met all day for our educational program.  Since most of the Brothers were not going to be home on Saturday, we had to change the timing of our educational course.  Remember, normally we meet on Friday eve from 5-8pm and Saturday from 9am-2pm.  Well, on Friday, we met from 9am-7pm! We had the afternoon meal together from 2-3 and then rested for an hour before we continued our afternoon session of 4pm-7pm.  Needless to say, after 10 hours of class material in Spanish, I was definitely wiped out! I really could have used a drink just to relax, but I did not give in to the temptation!

So, this week I will be going to school from 9am-12:30 from Tues-Thursday.  Since most of the community is gone, I wanted to go to class earlier so that I had more of the day to do some other things.  I will be doing some of the services during the Triduum.  Still not sure which one's exactly.  Since we do staff two large chapels, it would be a help to Fr. Raymundo if I took one of the services.  So, I will be reviewing each of the rituals and preparing homilies during this week.  I definitely have the 11:15am Easter Mass at the Chapel where I celebrated Palm Sunday today. 

I hope this is a great week for all of you.  I will be praying for all of you and hope that you remember me in prayer too- I will need them!  In many ways, I still can't believe I am here and celebrating Holy Week in Spanish! If you asked me last year what I would be doing during Holy Week, celebrating this week in Mexico would never have been on my radar!  God does work in strange ways!  Here are some pictures of the beginning of the Palm Sunday Service....enjoy the week!

Procession through the street: Singing Hosanna to the Son of David

The children lead the procession followed by the Choir and other adults

Altar servers leading the procession

We processed about .50 mile through the streets to the Chapel.

Homily for Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday

The Gospel reading today recounts for us Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem.  We all know this story, and each year we participate in the actions of the people from long ago.  We too will process with palms.  We too will show all those in this neighborhood that Jesus is our King, Amen? As we process to the Church we will remember how Jesus entered into Jerusalem.  He did not enter Jerusalem as a royal person with a court and soldiers and flashy clothes.  He entered Jerusalem humble, on a donkey.  He entered Jerusalem knowing that he was going to die.  When I think about that fact, I wonder if I could do the same. Jesus entered Jerusalem to give his life for you and for me.  As we process to the Church, even though we acknowledge Jesus as our King and Lord, let us also remember of the great gift he gave each of us.  He gave his life for us, and that is why we sing our Hosanna’s today, Amen? So let us process to the Church, with grateful and heavy hearts for Jesus our King and Lord.  Let us wave our palm branches in the air so that all will know that Jesus Christ is Lord, from generation to generation…Amen?

Second Homily

Morning Church! Well here we are beginning one of the holiest weeks in our faith.  And we begin Holy Week with the blessing of the Palms and the reading of the Passion of our Lord.  This day prepares us to experience the rest of Holy Week: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday.  For over two thousand years, people of faith have been celebrating these days and rituals as a way of entering into the incredible story of Jesus Christ.  I am a firm believer that on a day such as this, less words from the priest are important.  We should be reflecting upon the word that was just proclaimed to us in the story of the Passion.  This incredible story is a story of love with many twists and turns along the way.  When we hear the story of Jesus, it allows us to enter into our own story and see how we also have our own moments of death and resurrection in our own lives, Amen?

So, how is the story of Jesus our own story?  If you have ever been misunderstood, say, Amen.  If you have ever felt betrayed, say Amen.  If you have ever had a friend turn away from you, say Amen.  If you have ever been ridiculed or made fun of, say Amen.  If you have ever shared a special meal with friends, say Amen.  If you ever felt like God was not listening to your prayers, say Amen.  If you ever wanted God to take away your pain, say Amen.  If you ever loved someone so much that it hurt, say Amen.  Yes, the story of Jesus is our story.  In our daily lives, we share in the same passion that Jesus experienced.  In many ways, each day we have to die to our reality.  Each day we have to sacrifice.  Each day we have to forgive.  Each day we have to choose to love.  Each day we have to turn our will over to God’s will.  Each day we have to surrender to God.  This is the story of Jesus, and it is our story too. 

As we celebrate the holiest of weeks in our liturgical year let us rejoice in the love that God has for each of us in giving us his Son, Jesus.  Let us remember the gifts that Jesus gave to us so that we can live our lives.  Let us be grateful for the Eucharist, the body and blood of Jesus which is the food that nourishes us for our journey.  Let us remember that another way of celebrating the Eucharist is to wash one another’s feet- that we are called to serve one another in our lives.  Let us reverence the wood of the cross upon which hung our salvation and remember the sacrifices we all must make in our lives.  Let us remember that Jesus is the light of the world when we bless the Easter fire on Holy Saturday.  And finally, let us always remember that with the cross comes the resurrection, that as people of faith we must be people of hope and of joy.

 This next week is filled with so many beautiful images for us to grow in our faith.  As we celebrate the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus, let us remember our own times of passion, death, and resurrection in our lives.  We begin this week entering into the sadness of the passion and we end this week entering into the joy of the passion.  Death will bring new life.  God is not finished with us yet, Amen?  This week, we stand in solidarity with hundreds of millions of other Catholics who have celebrated these rituals for the past two thousand years.  Once again, we celebrate Palm Sunday and we give praise and thanks to Jesus, our King and our Lord, Amen?

Primera Homilia

La lectura del Evangelio relata hoy la entrada de Jesús en Jerusalén. Todos conocemos esta historia, y cada año participamos en las acciones de las personas desde hace mucho tiempo. Nosotros también procesaremos con las palmas. Nosotros también mostraremos todos los que en este barrio que Jesús es nuestro Rey, Amén? A medida que se procesa a la Iglesia vamos a recordar cómo Jesús entró en Jerusalén. No entró en Jerusalén como una persona real, con un corte y soldados y ropa llamativa. Él entró en Jerusalén humilde, montado en un burro. Entró en Jerusalén, sabiendo que iba a morir. Cuando pienso en ese hecho, me pregunto si podría hacer lo mismo. Jesús entró en Jerusalén para dar su vida para ustedes y para mí. A medida que se procesa a la Iglesia, a pesar de que reconocemos a Jesús como nuestro Rey y Señor, recordemos también del gran don que cada uno de nosotros. Él dio su vida por nosotros, y que es por eso que cantamos hoy nuestra de Hosanna, Amén? Así que vamos a procesar a la Iglesia, con corazones agradecidos y pesadas para Jesús, nuestro Rey y Señor. Vamos a agitamos nuestras palmas en el aire para que todos conocerán que Jesucristo es el Señor, de generación en generación... Amén?

 Segunda Homilia

Buenos días Iglesia! Bueno, aquí estamos iniciando una de las semanas más sagrados de nuestra fe. Y comenzamos la Semana Santa con la bendición de las palmas y la lectura de la Pasión de nuestro Señor. Este día nos prepara para experimentar el resto de la Semana Santa: Jueves Santo, Viernes Santo, Sábado Santo y Domingo de Pascua. Durante más de dos mil años, las personas de fe han estado celebrando en estos días y rituales como una manera de entrar en la increíble historia de Jesucristo. Soy una firme creyente de que en un día como este, menos palabras del sacerdote son importantes. Deberíamos reflexionar sobre la palabra que se acaba de proclamar a nosotros en la historia de la pasión. Esta increíble historia es una historia de amor con muchos giros y vueltas a lo largo del camino. Cuando oímos la historia de Jesús, que nos permite entrar en nuestra propia historia y ver cómo también tenemos nuestros propios momentos de la muerte y resurrección en nuestra propia vida, Amén?

Entonces, ¿cómo es la historia de Jesús nuestra propia historia? Si alguna vez se ha entendido mal, decir: Amén. Si alguna vez se ha sentido traicionado, decir Amén. Si alguna vez ha tenido un amigo se aparte de ti, decir Amén. Si alguna vez ha sido ridiculizado o burlado de, decir Amén. Si alguna vez ha compartido una comida especial con amigos, decir Amén. Si alguna vez se sentía como Dios no se escucha sus oraciones, decir Amén. Si alguna vez quiso Dios para quitar el dolor, decir Amén. Si alguna vez amó tanto a alguien que le dolía, decir Amén. Sí, la historia de Jesús es nuestra historia. En nuestra vida cotidiana, compartimos la misma pasión que Jesús experimentó. En muchos sentidos, cada día tenemos que morir a nuestra realidad. Cada día tenemos que sacrificar. Cada día tenemos que perdonar. Cada día tenemos que elegir amar. Cada día tenemos que poner nuestra voluntad a la voluntad de Dios. Cada día tenemos que entregarse a Dios. Esta es la historia de Jesús, y es nuestra historia también, Amen?

Al celebrar el santo de semanas en nuestro año litúrgico Gocémonos en el amor que Dios tiene para cada uno de nosotros al darnos a su Hijo, Jesús. Recordemos los dones que Jesús dio a nosotros para que podamos vivir nuestras vidas. Seamos agradecidos por la Eucaristía, el cuerpo y la sangre de Jesús, que es el alimento que nos nutre para nuestro viaje. Recordemos que otra forma de celebrar la Eucaristía es lavar el uno al otro de pies- que estamos llamados a servir unos a otros en nuestras vidas. Vamos a reverenciamos el madero de la cruz sobre la cual colgaba nuestra salvación y recordamos los sacrificios que todos debemos hacer en nuestras vidas. Recordemos que Jesús es la luz del mundo, cuando bendecimos el fuego Pascua el Sábado Santo. Y, por último, recordemos siempre que con la cruz viene la resurrección, que como personas de fe debemos ser personas de esperanza y de alegría, Amen?

Esta próxima semana está lleno de tantas imágenes bellas para que podamos crecer en nuestra fe. Al celebrar la pasión, muerte y resurrección de Jesús, recordemos nuestros propios tiempos de la pasión, muerte y resurrección en nuestras vidas. Comenzamos esta semana entrar en la tristeza de la pasión y terminamos esta semana que entra en el gozo de la pasión. La muerte traerá nueva vida. Dios no ha terminado con nosotros todavía, Amén? Esta semana, nos solidarizamos con cientos de millones de otros católicos que han celebrado estos rituales durante los últimos dos mil años. Una vez más, se celebra el Domingo de Ramos y alabamos y damos gracias a Jesús, nuestro Rey y nuestro Señor, Amén?

Chapter and Council Meetings. For us S.M. stands for Society of Mary, but also, Still Meeting!

Greetings good people!  Well, my time in St. Louis was great, long, tedious, tiring, and inspiring all at the same time! 

The first part of my trip was spent at the Marianist Retreat and Conference Center located in Eureka, Missouri, about 35 minutes outside of St. Louis.  The first part of my trip was devoted to our Provincial Chapter.  There were almost twenty five of us gathered from Thursday evening until Monday morning to discuss issues in the Province.  The days were long, but the conversations and the prayers were inspiring.  The weather was a little cold in the beginning but then the temperatures warmed up a bit during the day.  I took advantage of the time after lunch to walk the trails on the property...all that sitting is not good! Here's more of the property...

After the meetings out at Eureka, we returned to St. Louis for Provincial Council meetings in the Central West End of the city of St. Louis.  The meetings were filled with vibrant discussions and some tough decisions.  I was able to stay in the community where I lived last year and I always feel "at home" there.  I was able to preside at two weekday Masses at the parish and so I was able to catch up with some of the parishioners there.  All in all a good time, but a long time to be away.

Once again, my travel back to Queretaro was a challenge.  I was supposed to leave St. Louis at 8:30am, change planes in Houston and arrive in Queretaro at 1:15pm.  So, of course I was at the airport a little early and waited to board the first flight.  We began getting in line for the flight only to be told that the plane at the gate was going elsewhere.  We were now departing out of another gate.  We all went to that gate only to find out that we were re-assigned to yet another flight.  It was now past 8:30.  I called United knowing that I would never make the connection.  I was re-booked on a later flight, but that flight did not leave Houston until 6pm.  So, I knew I would be waiting in Houston for an additional 6 hours.  Ugh!!!  Well, that did not come to pass because as we finally boarded our plane to Houston almost 45 minutes late, we pulled off the tarmac and sat there for another 15 minutes until we finally took off.  Phew!  Well....45 minutes into the flight the captain told us that we were turning around and heading back to St. Louis because he could not regularize the pressure.  So, turn around we did and had to wait to board another plane.  We finally took off from St. Louis around noon....so, while I still had to wait until 6pm for my flight to Queretaro, I did not have to wait 6 hours in the airport.  I arrived in Queretaro at 8:15pm and finally made it through immigration and customs by 9pm.  We arrived back home close to 10pm.   Yep...more than a 12 hour day for me.

This past weekend we had round two of our educational course.  We met on Friday eve from 5-8pm and Saturday from 9am-2pm.  As you might imagine, after all of that time in Spanish, my brain was fried and I still had to prepare a homily for the next day.  I actually took a little siesta after our afternoon meal and then walked for about an hour and then got down to business to write and translate the homily for the Fifth Sunday of Lent....yes, the end is in sight! 

Right before I left for St. Louis I had a meeting with one of the Brothers regarding the Mission that the community was going to preach in a very poor rural area of Mexico.  I began the conversation by telling him that I had some concerns and some fears around doing this at this point in my time in Mexico.  I was relieved when he said to me that he was discussing this issue with the other members of the community and they felt that maybe I should stay home this year.  I  WAS SOOOOO HAPPY!!!!!! I really felt like I needed to observe the rituals of Holy Week at least once before I had the sole responsibility for carrying them out.  Each day of the Triduum is very different and complicated in English!  Now, add Spanish, a different poor rural community with no internet access, and differing customs to the mix and you have a recipe for disaster!  So, I am staying home and I will be helping out here at our Chapel and also assisting at one of the Chapels we staff.  I know the communities and they know my limitations in Spanish.  I will attend classes at the Language School for three days during Holy Week and assist or preside at the liturgies for Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil.  I will have one of the Masses on Easter Sunday.  So, I am a bit relieved that it all worked out this way. 

Tomorrow our community will have a Retreat Day to reflect on Lent and the Year of Mercy.  I will attend school from Tuesday-Friday and then we will have classes again on Friday.  So, things are moving along here.  I hope all of you are doing well. 

Here is my homily for the Fifth Sunday of Lent:

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Morning Church! Are you remaining faithful to your Lenten promises? Have you made a few mistakes along the way?  Say, Amen if you made a few mistakes…Amen.  Yes, I am with you.  I made a few mistakes along the way too.  That’s why we hear today in the Word of God that God makes a way when there is no way.  God makes a way when there is no way….if you know what I am talking about say, Amen!  Yes, I am sure everyone in this Church felt at some point in your life that you could not do something, that you could not endure something, that you could not try something new, that you could not remain with something, and yet with God all things are possible, Amen?  God makes a way when there is no way.  Repeat after me, God makes a way when there is no way….

Today the prophet Isaiah recounts the story of how God rescued the Israelites during their Exodus from Egypt.  God rescued the Israelites from the army of Egyptians who were in pursuit of them by parting the sea and making a way when there was no way.  When the Israelites wandered in the desert and were tired, hungry and thirsty, God made a way when there was no way and provided the Israelites with rest, manna, water, quail and an oasis.  The psalmist reminds us today that the Lord has done great things for us.  I think if we look back on our lives, we can see that the Lord has done great things for us, Amen? Saint Paul reminds us today that all is loss except our relationship with Christ.  Paul had a different life before his encounter with Jesus.  Paul was following another way.  Paul persecuted the Church until God made a way when there was no way in the life of Paul.  If God can do that Paul, God can do that you with and me, Amen?  Even though Paul found a new life in Christ, he still needed to work on that relationship.  He still needed to avoid temptations, he still needed to avoid occasions of sin, he still needed to pray, he still needed to care for the needs of others, he still needed to focus his life on Christ.  We are like Paul, Amen?  Even though we come to Church each week, even though we know we have been saved by the death and resurrection of Christ, we still know that there is work to do that keeps us honest and focused on building the Kingdom of God, Amen?

I am sure that the woman today in the Gospel of John really felt that God makes a way when there is no way.  This story only appears in the Gospel of John, but it is a story of hope and forgiveness.  It is a story that God makes a way when there is no way.  I am always intrigued by this story because it is a story of broken and restored relationships.  The woman is brought before Jesus because she broke the Law of Moses.  She was caught committing adultery.  I always wonder where the man is in the story.  After all, it takes two to commit adultery!  In the end, the woman was engaged in breaking a relationship.  She participated in breaking a relationship between the man and his wife, and now she was involved in breaking a relationship between herself and the community.  The community wanted to kill her.  Jesus wanted to restore her relationship, he wanted to put her back into a right relationship with others and with God.  When Jesus is asked how he should handle this situation, he begins to write in the sand.  What was he writing?  Some people claim that perhaps he was writing down the sins of each of the individuals who wanted to kill her, and just as her sin was publically exposed, their sins were now publically exposed too.  The elders of the community left first, maybe they left because they had more sins because of their age! It’s hard to throw a rock at someone for sinning when your sin is right in front of your face, Amen?  Now the key to the story is that Jesus does not just say to the woman, okay, now you can go, everything is fine.  No, he says to her, “Does no one condemn you?  Neither do I condemn you.  Go now and sin no more.”  Jesus acknowledges that what she did was wrong but he does not condemn her.  There is a difference between judging right from wrong and condemnation.  We all make mistakes.  We should not be condemned for our mistakes, but rather, should learn from them and be given the opportunity to change our lives.  I am sure that woman changed her life because of her encounter with Jesus.  If the Jews killed her, she would not have the opportunity to change her life.  God makes a way when there is no way…And we should too.  If God can believe in our possibilities and ability to change, then we have to believe that about one another.  Maybe there you have a family member who you think will never change….God will not give up on them, and neither should you.  Perhaps you did something for which you are not proud, for which you bear great guilt and shame, Jesus does not condemn you, and neither should you condemn yourself.  Condemnation closes the door to the possibility of change.  God makes a way when there is no way.  Maybe you think there is no way in your life right now or the life of a loved one.  Do not give up, God will make a way…repeat after me, God will make a way….God will make a way.

And so today is about hope, possibility, compassion, and forgiveness.  These are great words and actions for us to continue our Lenten journey, Amen?  Because, God makes a way when there is no way

Quinto Domingo de Cuaresma

Buenos días iglesia! ¿Están siendo fiel a sus promesas de Cuaresma? ¿Han hecho algunos errores en el camino? Decir, Amén si han hecho algunos errores... Amén. Sí, yo estoy con ustedes. Hice algunos errores en el camino también. Es por eso que oímos hoy en la Palabra de Dios que Dios hace un camino cuando no hay manera. Dios hace un camino cuando no hay manera... si ustedes saben lo que estoy hablando, dicen Amén! Sí, estoy seguro de que todos los miembros de esta Iglesia se sintieron en algún momento de sus vidas que no se podían hacer algo, que no se podían soportar algo, que no se podían probar algo nuevo, que no podían quedarse con algo, y sin embargo con Dios todas las cosas son posibles, Amén? Dios hace un camino cuando no hay manera. Repita después de mí, Dios hace un camino cuando no hay manera

Hoy en día el profeta Isaías relata la historia de cómo Dios rescató a los israelitas durante su salida de Egipto. Dios rescató a los israelitas de que el ejército de los egipcios que estaban en la búsqueda de ellos cortando el mar y haciendo un camino cuando no había manera. Cuando los israelitas vagaron en el desierto y estaban cansados, con hambre y sed, Dios hizo un camino cuando no había manera y proporcionó a los israelitas con el descanso, el maná, el agua, la codorniz y un oasis. El salmista nos recuerda hoy que el Señor ha hecho grandes cosas por nosotros. Creo que si miramos hacia atrás en nuestras vidas, podemos ver que el Señor ha hecho grandes cosas por nosotros, Amén? San Pablo nos recuerda hoy que todo es pérdida, excepto nuestra relación con Cristo. Pablo tuvo una vida diferente antes de su encuentro con Jesús. Pablo estaba siguiendo otro camino. Pablo persiguió a la Iglesia hasta que Dios hizo un camino cuando no había manera en la vida de Pablo. Si Dios puede hacer que Pablo, Dios puede hacer que ustedes y yo, Amén? A pesar de que Pablo encontró una nueva vida en Cristo, todavía tenía que trabajar en esa relación. Todavía necesitaba para evitar tentaciones, aún necesitaba para evitar las ocasiones de pecado, que todavía necesitaba orar, todavía necesitaba para cuidar de las necesidades de los demás, él todavía tenía que centrar su vida en Cristo. Somos como Pablo, Amén? A pesar de que venimos a la iglesia cada semana, a pesar de que sabemos que hemos sido salvados por la muerte y resurrección de Cristo, aún sabemos que hay trabajo por hacer que nos mantiene honestos y nos centramos en la construcción del Reino de Dios, Amén?

Estoy seguro de que la mujer de hoy en el Evangelio de San Juan realmente sentía que Dios hace un camino cuando no hay manera. Esta historia sólo aparece en el Evangelio de Juan, pero es una historia de esperanza y perdón. Es una historia que Dios hace un camino cuando no hay manera. Siempre estoy intrigado por esta historia porque es una historia de relaciones rotas y restauradas. La mujer se pone delante de Jesús porque ella rompió la ley de Moisés. Ella fue sorprendida en adulterio. Siempre me pregunto dónde está el hombre en la historia. Después de todo, se necesitan dos para adulterar! Pero, la mujer se dedicaba a romper una relación. Ella participó en la ruptura de una relación entre el hombre y su mujer, y ahora ella estaba involucrada en la ruptura de una relación entre ella y la comunidad. La comunidad quería matarla. Jesús quería restaurar su relación, que quería poner su espalda en una relación correcta con los demás y con Dios. Cuando se le preguntó a Jesús cómo debe manejar esta situación, comienza a escribir en la arena. ¿Qué estaba escribiendo? Algunas personas afirman que tal vez estaba escribiendo los pecados de cada uno de los individuos que querían matar a ella, y al igual que el pecado de la mujer fue expuesto públicamente, los pecados de la gente fueron expuestos públicamente ahora también. Los ancianos de la comunidad dejaron en primer lugar, tal vez salieron porque tenían más pecados a causa de su edad! Es difícil tirar una piedra a alguien por pecar cuando su pecado está directamente en frente de su cara, Amén?

Ahora la clave de la historia es que Jesús no se limita a decir a la mujer, está bien, ahora se puede ir, todo está bien. No, él le dice: "¿Nadie te ha condenado? Tampoco yo te condeno. Vete y ya no vuelvas a pecar.” Jesús reconoce que lo que hizo estuvo mal pero no la condena. Hay una diferencia entre juzgar el bien del mal y la condenación. Todos cometemos errores. No debemos ser condenados por nuestros errores, sino más bien, deberíamos aprender de ellos y se les dará la oportunidad de cambiar nuestras vidas. Estoy seguro de que la mujer le cambió la vida a causa de su encuentro con Jesús. Si los judíos la mataron, ella no tendría la oportunidad de cambiar su vida. Dios hace un camino cuando no hay manera... Y nosotros también deberíamos hacerlo. Si Dios puede creer en nuestras posibilidades y capacidad de cambiar, entonces tenemos que creer que el uno del otro. Tal vez hay que tener un miembro de la familia que le parece que nunca va a cambiar... Dios no va a renunciar a ellos, y nosotros tampoco deberíamos. Tal vez usted hizo algo para lo que no está orgulloso, para el que soportar un gran sentimiento de culpa y vergüenza, Jesús no le condena, y tampoco debería ti mismo te condenas. La condena se cierra la puerta a la posibilidad de cambio. Dios hace una manera cuando no hay manera. Tal vez usted piensa que no hay manera en sus vidas en este momento o la vida de un ser querido. No se dio por vencido, Dios hará un camino... repite después de mí, Dios hará un camino... Dios hará un camino.

Y por eso hoy es sobre la esperanza, posibilidad, la compasión y el perdón. Estas son las grandes palabras y acciones para nosotros para continuar nuestro camino cuaresmal, Amén? Porque, Dios hace un camino cuando no hay manera.