Traducción al español de un salmo por la compañera pastora Katy Stenta a modo de ánimo a orar a la usanza de los salmos de lamento… como ánimo a orar.
The Church With the World
A Dios que Reparta Suerte
Mateo 25.31-46 es contencioso y retante. Una lectura pietista del texto lo convertiría en una lista de cotejo. Pienso que debemos optar por una lectura social y política. La escatología neotestamentaria (en general) y el evangelio de Mateo (en particular) son llamados a la iglesia a asumir espacio y postura ética y moral ante las injusticias. Y si las injusticias son acciones políticas y sociales, entonces el testimonio y acción de la iglesia - desde el evangelio de Jesús - debe ser político y social. Al final, Dios repartirá suerte. Mientras tanto, nos toca actuar… nos toca ser seguidores y testigos del ejemplo de Jesús.
In the Meantime
It took four days for the 2020 general election to be called. Many celebrated the opportunity for a change of government. However, there are some, especially people of color and folks of other disenfranchised communities, that knew that the celebration was just for a moment. There is much work that lies ahead. The Parable of the 10 Bridesmaids (Matthew 25:1-13) encourages us for the work ahead. Its in-between lines may reveal that we have been ready for this time all along.
Seeing Ghosts
Matthew 14:22-33 provides a series of scenes - many, for a relatively short scripture lesson. Although one can’t miss Jesus walking on water, or Peter floundering, one often misses that Jesus took time off, a whole night. But, for what purpose?
This gospel story is a good way to explore how individualism - which is a culturally accepted way to be selfish - nourishes racism, one of the heads of the many-headed hydra that is white supremacy. Why did Jesus take time off? Why did the disciples get anxious at a headwind, or scared at… a ghost? I invite you to help me answer those questions.
Parables, Discernment and Justice
One the one hand, for many of us who grew up in the Church (or have been in church for decades) perhaps we were taught that parables have a singular (perhaps even universal) purpose and meaning. That’s a burden! Considering the community Matthew was writing to, and how the gospel writer organizes the parables of Jesus, perhaps a better consideration of the parables are like tools to encourage our discernment for witness of “the Kingdom of Heaven come near.” In the post, based on sermons shared with a consortium of the Kenmore, First Tonawanda, and Maryvale Drive Presbyterian churches, and to the Northern New York Presbytery, I invite you (part of a 21st century audience) to join the invitation Jesus made to a 1st century audience in articulating in words, images and actions, what the Kindgom of Heaven come near is.
The Scriptural lesson is Matthew 13.31-33, and 44-52
Understanding and Attention
There are times when, in considering Scripture, we might default to an understanding that the text is speaking of the “world.” I have found that, in general, the scriptures Christians hold as holy speak more to the community of faith than it does to the world. That is true, I find, in the lesson from Matthew 13.1-9, 18-23.
This article is based on a sermon I shared with the good folk of Shepherdstown (WV) Presbyterian Church. You can find the video of the sermon at the bottom of the post.
Lead by Being Led
For those who follow the Revised Common Lectionary, the Church has been considering Matthew 10 for the past few weeks as the Gospel Lesson. In times when racist violence takes, again, a public face, and white fragility manifests itself in the governance and discerning spaces of USAmerican religious institutions, the Gospel of Matthew compels the Church to rethink it’s leading model, and consider following as the way to lead.
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.
I am Deeply Concerned - inspired by "Déjame Respirar"
Inspired by “Déjame Respirar” by Vin Ramos, I seek to provide some historical context around my belief that Puerto Ricans should be standing side by side with African Americans and their protests, instead of seeking to question the anger of said protests.
The video is sung in Spanish, but the imaged in and of themselves are worth seeing it.
Me Preocupa - inspirado por "Déjame Respirar"
Inspirado por la canción y video “Déjame Respirar” de Vin Ramos, me propongo proveer algún contexto histórico sobre porque puertorriqueñas y puertorriqueños deberían solidarizarse con las luchas y protestas de afrodescendientes en EEUU en vez de criticar la furia y coraje con la que se están lanzando a la calle.
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)
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)
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