,

Choose the Jesus Option

,
Choose the Jesus Option

Racism, militarism, capitalism, colonialism, heteropatriarchy, and environmental exploitation all stem from the same root - White Supremacy. These are demons we are called to cast out every fiber of US life and of Global engagement. The reference to “sheep” in the lesson of Matthew 9.35-10.8 is a political and sociological reading of the circumstances of the crowds that surrounded Jesus. Jesus had compassion and healed crowds of “troubled and helpless” people. Their troubles and helplessness - systematic, intentional. Oppression and marginalization are built to support White Supremacy. The lesson calls the Church, in the midst of oppression and marginalization, to heal, raise the dead, clean bodies and to throw out demons that perpetrate and perpetuate oppression and discrimination.

Based on a sermon I preached at the First Presbyterian Church in Albany and the Iglesia Presbiteriana en Hato Rey.

Perseverance, Patience, Joy (video)

Perseverance, Patience, Joy (video)

I was invited to share a sermon for Intercultural Church Sunday on a shared worship experience for congregations of the Presbytery of New Brunswick - Presbyterian Church, USA (the presbytery in NJ that serves Mercer Co. and parts of Hunterdon, Middlesex and Somerset Cos.). This was also during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic in which faith communities had to find new ways of being church in worship and witness. And even in times of pandemic, the Holy Spirit calls the church to be in relationship with others, especially those we were taught to consider as “other”. What if those relationships were to change us? What is needed to be faithful in pursuing those relationships? What does love look like for all?

Juntos, con Cristo - Together, with Christ (video)

Juntos, con Cristo - Together, with Christ (video)

Una reflexión que compartiera sobre unidad de la comunidad de fe. La misma está basada en el texto de Juan 15, donde Jesús compara su relación con sus seguidora/es como la relación entre la vid y sus ramas. Este es parte de una serie de mensajes breves compartidos por la Oficina de Apoyo Hispano/Latino de la Iglesia Presbiteriana (EEUUA).

This is a short message about community togetherness. I share about John 15, where Jesus compares his relationship to his followers using the image of the vine and the branches. This is part of a series of short reflections curated by the Office of Hispanic/Latinx Congregational Intercultural Support of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Being Fully Oneself (video and audio)

Being Fully Oneself (video and audio)

One cannot be anything else than what one is. And when we are called by God - in baptism, communion and community - God does not expect us to bring anything else but what and who we are. Anything else we will need to be faithful witnesses, the Holy Spirit will give us.

This was a sermon shared with the community of the First Presbyterian Church in Jamestown, NY, based on the gospel lesson in Matthew 5:13-20

La Iglesia, Mayordoma de la Paz

La Iglesia, Mayordoma de la Paz

Celebrando el 2do domingo de Adviento, el domingo de la paz, reflexioné con la congregación de la 3ra Iglesia Presbiteriana en Aguadilla sobre como el profético en Isaías 11:1-10 le provee una imagen para la iglesia sobre esa paz que se puede añorar, una paz que la iglesia está llamada a ser gestora para y con el mundo. También tomando alguna inspiración de II Corintios 9:6-15, acompañé en esa oportunidad a esta congregación al cierre de su campaña de mayordomía. La Iglesia es llamada a ser mayordoma de paz.

Of the City, By the City, For the City

Of the City, By the City, For the City

“Presence and witness in urban settings must be of the city, by the city, and for the city.” I share with you this “story in progress” from the Plainfields as a way to narrate the complexity (and outright difficulty) of ministry in urban contexts. Not only does every interested party has its own understanding of what the city is and what kind of Christian presence is required, but it sometimes feels that many congregational leaders in cities (or interested in doing urban mission) think that being aware of demographic data, socioeconomic situations, and development potential is enough to develop a “strategy” for the city.

Would you be a Neighbor? (video link)

Would you be a Neighbor? (video link)

When preaching on the story commonly known as "The Good Samaritan” we often miss that this parable is in response to an intense conversation between Jesus and an expert in religious law. I had the opportunity to preach this sermon during the opening worship service of the 2019 Big Tent (video link), the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s biennial learning and fellowship gathering. I preached it originally in, both, Spanish and English.

El Regreso

Regresaré algún día

al lugar que vió nacer

mi cuerpo, mis pasiones, mis anhelos mi ahínco,

mi compromiso, mi esperanza.

Regresaré algún día

a un lugar que me enseñó

lo que es ser íntegralmente

lo que es pertenecer sin condición

Regresaré algún día

a un lugar que se sabe país

a pesar de la dura carga del imperio

a pesar de la pesadilla colonial

Regresaré algún día

a un país que es nuevo

cuya dignidad está predicada

y su valía empeñada

en la grande y complicada historia

de la tradición e identidad puertorriqueña

Unexpected Acts: Called to Shop at the Local Bodega

Unexpected Acts: Called to Shop at the Local Bodega

Rules and regulations. Social expectations and theological interpretations. For many these are all but set in stone. Allowing ourselves to engage with another that is different to us can (and should) change to shifting idiosyncrasies and keeping biases in check. And if more deeply, engaging the other can change one life and witness all together.

I preached this sermon to the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church in Albany, NY.

Truth will Out

Truth will Out

To stand trial is to be in a dialogue. The party in authority is seeking to convince others that the party accused is guilty. The purpose of a dialogue is to convince, to sway. Jesus is not about dialogue. He is about conversation - being with others in life together. And Jesus take every opportunity to be in conversation with others, even while standing trial.

This sermon was preached in two versions, first at the installation of Elder Warren McNeill as stated clerk of New York City Presbytery, and this version to the congregation of First Presbyterian Church in Albany, NY.

The War Economy is Immoral

The War Economy is Immoral

In this sermon I engage the text of II Samuel 11, and the otherwise unrelated stories of war, lust, murder if not seen through the historical and contemporary lenses of the war economy. This was also a nudge of support to the Poor Peoples’ Campaign: A National Call for a Moral Revival and its New York State organizing.

This sermon was originally preached at the Presbyterian New England Congregational Church in Saratoga Springs, NY.