Tuesday, October 4
LET US EXPERIENCE
THAT BROTHERLY LOVE
1 PETER 1:13-23
1 Peter 1:22
We’ve been hosting
a young female volunteer worker from Germany in our home for several months. It
is always a challenge to host people in one’s house; many concerns arise with
respect to relationships, food, the hosting conditions and terms, etc. But what
a blessing it is when we can get to know and share our lives with people who
devote part of their lives to experience our reality, to collaborate in our
projects and programs without any interests other than solidarity. It is
certain that God’s blessings have been overabundant throughout the period of
this exchange. We were able to count on
an attentive listener in our volunteer worker. The mutual understanding and
adaptation amid the rigors of living under the same roof were marked by
scarcities and by the suffocating heat. She always had a smile on her face.
And what can I say about her “cubanadas?” She learned to make guava
marmalade, rice and beans, tamales…and we were able to enjoy exquisite recipes
of German desserts, adapted using whatever ingredients were at hand. We enjoyed her musical gifts during the
worship services; our boys and girls had a talented, sweet, understanding and
firm Sunday school teacher; and our elderly found in her a sensitive and
devoted companion. All told, this is what I call a true experience of
missionary work. Even though she is no
longer here, her prints have stayed with us, because we certainly feel that she
is a close part of our family.
What if this experience served as an inspiration to us and we practiced
this solidarity with our neighbors, and our brothers and sisters in our churches?
As was our volunteer, let open ourselves up to others; let us allow ourselves
to be surprised by their life stories and experiences; let us share gifts and
knowledge with our neighbor and with a stranger. Let us show sensitivity and solidarity; let us
leave behind positive prints in the lives of others. Let us experience that brotherly love!
Prayer: Oh good and gracious God, allow us to
share this love that you make grow within us, once we have met you and have
decided to follow you.
Translation by Elisa Menocal
VIVAMOS ESE
AMOR FRATERNAL
1 PEDRO 1: 13-23
Amaos unos a
otros entrañablemente, de corazón puro
1 Pedro 1:22
Por algunos meses hemos recibido en casa a una
voluntaria de Alemania. Siempre es un reto hospedar a personas en tu casa,
surgen muchas preocupaciones en torno a las relaciones, la comida, las
condiciones de hospedaje, etc. Pero qué bendición cuando podemos conocer y
compartir con personas que dedican parte de su vida a vivir nuestra realidad,
colaborar en nuestros proyectos y programas sin otro interés que la solidaridad.
Sin dudas, sentimos que las bendiciones de Dios sobreabundaron en este tiempo
de intercambio. Pudimos contar con el oído atento de nuestra voluntaria, la
comprensión y la adaptación en medio del rigor de la convivencia, marcada por
la escasez y el calor sofocante. Ella siempre tuvo la sonrisa dispuesta. Y qué decir de sus “cubanadas”:
aprendió a hacer mermelada de guayaba, arroz con frijoles, tamales… También
degustamos exquisitas recetas de postres alemanes, adaptadas con ingredientes
de nuestro contexto. Disfrutamos de sus dones musicales en la liturgia,
nuestros niños y niñas contaron con una maestra de escuela dominical talentosa,
dulce, comprensiva y firme, y nuestros ancianos compartieron con una
acompañante sensible y sacrificada. En fin, a esto le llamo una verdadera
experiencia de trabajo misionero. Ahora, aunque ella no esté, sus huellas han
quedado con nosotros, porque sin dudas la sentimos cercana y familiar. ¿Qué tal
si esta experiencia nos sirve de inspiración y practicamos esta solidaridad con
nuestros vecinos, hermanos y hermanas de la iglesia? Como nuestra voluntaria,
estemos abiertos a los demás, dejémonos sorprender con sus historias y
experiencias de vida, compartamos dones y saberes con nuestro prójimo y con el
extraño. Seamos sensibles y solidarios, dejemos huellas positivas en la vida de
los otros. ¡Vivamos ese amor fraternal!
Oración: Oh Dios
bueno, ayúdanos a compartir ese amor que haces crecer en nosotros, una vez que
te hemos conocido y hemos decidido seguirte.
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