Wednesday, March 25th

Anniversary of the Church “Edward A. Odell” (Camajuaní)

May Your Will Be Done!

Hebrews 10:4-10

“Here I am—I have come to do your will, my God.”

Hebrews 10: 7 (NIV)

There are some truths that make us uncomfortable, that shake our certainties, and this letter presents one of them to us. We must discern and follow God’s will! Without a doubt, what pleases God is that we fulfill his will, the shalom for all his creation, that definitive kiss between peace and justice.

This isn’t about beating our chests for what we do, boasting about our diaconal actions or offerings, about the number of people who gather in our community, nor about our theological knowledge… God sets his gaze on simple people, on his afflicted people, and on his damaged creation.

Let us also fix our gaze in that same direction. Let us place ourselves in his hands and to humbly be instruments at the service of his just and inclusive love. This is what Jesus taught us. It is what God expects of his sons and daughters. That is the true and sacrificial offering of love that pleases God.

Prayer: Beloved God, thank you because through Jesus, love incarnate, you show us what your will is and how to follow it. Make us sensitive and courageous in order to fulfill your will and not our own. Amen.

Translation by Susan Metcalf Smith

 

MARZO 25, Miércoles

Aniversario de la Iglesia “Edward A. Odell” (Camajuaní)¡

Que sea tu voluntad!

Hebreos 10:4-10

“... He aquí que vengo, oh Dios mío, para hacer tu voluntad”

Hebreos 10: 7

Hay verdades que incomodan, hacen tambalear nuestras certezas, una de ellas nos la presenta esta carta. ¡Es preciso discernir y seguir la voluntad de Dios! Sin dudas, lo que agrada a Dios es cumplir su voluntad, el shalom para toda su creación, ese beso definitivo entre la paz y la justicia. No se trata de golpearnos el pecho por lo que hacemos, vanagloriarnos por nuestras acciones diaconales u ofrendas, por la cantidad de personas que se congregan en mi comunidad, por nuestros conocimientos teológicos... Dios coloca su mirada en las personas sencillas, en su pueblo afligido, en su creación dañada. Fijemos en esa dirección también nuestra mirada. Pongámonos en sus manos y con humildad seamos instrumentos al servicio de su amor justo e inclusivo. Esto nos enseñó Jesús, es lo que espera Dios de sus hijos e hijas. Esa es la verdadera y sacrificada ofrenda de amor que agrada a Dios.

Oración: Gracias Dios amado, porque a través de Jesús, amor encarnado, nos muestras cuál es tu voluntad y cómo seguirla. Haznos sensibles y valientes para cumplir tu voluntad y no la nuestra. Amén.

Tuesday, March 24^th

Anniversary of the Presbyterian Reformed Church, Prince of Peace at Matanzas

When Everyone Points at You, Jesus Sees You Differently

John 8:1-11

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

John 8:11 (NIV)

Imagine being there, surrounded by people who don’t see you as a person. They drag you around, they expose you; they don’t ask how you got to that point. They don’t care about your story, your pain, your wounds. They just want someone to punish you.

And then Jesus appears. He doesn’t rush, he doesn’t shout, he doesn’t even look at you like the others do. He bends down and writes on the ground. When he speaks, he does so not to condemn you, but to disarm those who believe they have the right to judge.

One by one they leave because deep down they know they have failed, loved badly, lied, hurt others, desired what they shouldn’t have, and been unfair. And you, who were expecting the blow, receive only a glance. Jesus does not ask about your mistakes, nor does he demand explanations. He does not define you by what you did. On the contrary, he restores your dignity and allows you to start over because the mistake is not the most important thing. What is important is what you do after. What matters is that there is someone who believes in you, even when you no longer know how to believe in yourself.

Prayer: Lord, when the world calls me out for my mistakes, remind me that the way you see me lifts me up with mercy. Amen.

Translation by Susan Metcalf Smith

 

MARZO 24, Martes

Aniversario de la IPR Príncipe de Paz, Matanzas.

Cuando todos te señalan, Jesús te mira distinto.

Juan 8: 1-11

 Ni yo te condeno, vete, y no peques más.

Juan 8:11

Imagina estar ahí. Rodeada de gente que no te ve como persona. Te arrastran, te exponen, no preguntan cómo llegaste a ese momento. No les importa tu historia, tu dolor, tus grietas. Solo quieren que alguien te castigue.Y entonces aparece Jesús, no se apresura, no grita, ni siquiera te mira como los demás. Se inclina, escribe en el suelo, y cuando habla, no lo hace para condenarte, sino para desarmar a quienes creen tener derecho a juzgar.Uno a uno se van. Porque en el fondo, saben que han fallado, han amado mal, han mentido, herido, deseado lo que no debían, han sido injustos.Y tú, que esperabas el golpe, solo recibes una mirada, Jesús no pregunta por el error, no exige explicaciones, no te define por lo que hiciste, al contrario, te devuelve la dignidad, te permite empezar de nuevo.Porque el error no es lo más importante, lo importante es lo que haces después, lo importante es que hay alguien que cree en ti, incluso cuando tú ya no sabes cómo hacerlo.

Oración: Señor, cuando el mundo me señale por mis errores, recuérdame que tu mirada me levanta con misericordia. Amén

Monday, March 23

WE WILL KNOW WHO HE IS. AND THAT’S ENOUGH

John 8:21-30

… I am going away, and you will search for me…

John 8:21(NRSV)

In this text, Jesus speaks clearly, but those who hear him don’t understand. He tells them that he’s leaving, that they cannot follow him, that they will die in their sins if they don’t believe who he is. However, in the midst of this misunderstanding, Jesus doesn’t walk away. He continues to speak, continues to reveal, continues to wait.

Even though we don’t understand Jesus, He doesn’t stop drawing near to us. His patience doesn’t depend on our clarity, but on His love. He knows that there are times when our questions weigh more than our certainties, and even so, He continues to speak to us from above, from eternity, from close by.

So, if you feel confused, if there are things you can’t understand about your path, your faith, or your history, remember: Jesus continues to speak, He doesn’t stop revealing Himself, even when we don’t see Him clearly. But when we lift Him up in our lives, when we put Him at the center, even in the midst of pain, then, as the text says, we will know that He is. And that’s enough.

Prayer: Jesus, help me to believe, even without understanding. Amen.

Translation by Sorrel Ann Alburger

 

MARZO 23, Lunes

SABREMOS QUE ÉL ES. Y ESO BASTA.

Juan 8:21-30

… Yo me voy, y me buscaréis…

Juan 8:21

En este texto Jesús habla con claridad, pero quienes lo escuchan no comprenden. Él les dice que se va, que ellos no pueden seguirle, que morirán en sus pecados si no creen que Él es. Sin embargo, en medio de esa incomprensión, Jesús no se aleja. Sigue hablando, sigue revelando, sigue esperando. Aunque no entendamos a Jesús, Él no deja de acercarse, su paciencia no depende de nuestra lucidez, sino de su amor. Él sabe que hay momentos en que nuestras preguntas pesan más que nuestras certezas, y aun así, nos sigue hablando desde lo alto, desde lo eterno, de cerquita. Entonces, si te sientes confundida, si hay cosas que no logras entender de tu camino, de tu fe, de tu historia, recuerda: Jesús sigue hablando, no deja de revelarse, incluso cuando no lo vemos con claridad. Más cuando lo levantamos en nuestra vida, lo ponemos en el centro, incluso en medio del dolor, entonces como dice el texto Sabremos que Él es. Y eso basta.

Oración: Jesús, ayúdame a creer, incluso sin entender. Amén.