“We Like Palm Sunday”

A reflection to begin Holy Week


Part of a palm bouquet woven by me after attending a workshop at The Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii, in Chicago. / Parte de un ramillete de palmas que tejí durante un taller en la Ermita de Nuestra Señora de Pompeya, en Chicago.

By Magdalena I. García

We like the palms
bring them on
green and fresh
they speak of life.

We like the cloaks
bring them on
colorful and striped
they speak of welcome.

We like the shouts
bring them on
loud and clear
they speak of longings.

We like the donkey
bring it on
humble and obedient
it speaks of service.

We like the king
bring him on
powerful and majestic
he speaks of conquest.

We like Palm Sunday
bring it on
festive and promising
it speaks of hope.

We like what we like
so spare us the sales
no need to entice us with discounts
you keep the wood and the nails.

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“Nos gusta el Domingo de Ramos”

Por Magdalena I. García

Nos gustan las palmas
pueden traerlas
verdes y frescas
proclaman vida.

Nos gustan los mantos
pueden traerlos
coloridos y rayados
proclaman bienvenida.

Nos gustan los gritos
pueden traerlos
fuertes y claros
proclaman anhelos.

Nos gusta el burrito
pueden traerlo
humilde y obediente
proclama servicio.

Nos gusta el rey
pueden traerlo
poderoso y majestuoso
proclama conquista.

Nos gusta el Domingo de Ramos
pueden traerlo
festivo y prometedor
proclama esperanza.

Nos gusta lo que nos gusta
no es cuestión de ahorrar centavos
no intenten seducirnos con rebajas
quedénse con la madera y los clavos.

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"A Bread Pudding Church"

A Lenten Reflection

Bread pudding with my mother's recipe made in a bundt pan.

By Magdalena I. García

“Be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” - Romans 12:2

Transformed
Like altered, changed, reformed
Like taking leftovers and cooking up something new
Like making bread pudding

Take a loaf of bread…
white, whole wheat, multi-grain or rye,
old or fresh, crust or no crust, soft or hard,
crumble it to pieces, use your hands to break apart.

Add fresh ingredients…
six cups of milk, one stick of butter, four beaten eggs
get them from the fridge or from another shore
plus two cups of sugar you can pick up at the store.

Sprinkle with exotic spices…
cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, dried fruits and rum;
be liberal, be daring, be creative, be wild;
there is no need to be cautious, my child .

Pour into a large mold…
round, square, rectangle, or Bundt;
or try a new shape, perhaps an oblong
it won’t alter the taste so you can’t go wrong.

Bake at 350 degrees for an hour or so…
see the dough rise, watch it turn golden brown,
enjoying all the while the wonderful smell
that will draw everyone like a magic spell.

***

God of the grain and the wheat,
give us the courage
to take this old loaf we call the church,
and to soak it with the freshness of your Spirit
that it might become new bread.

God of the mill and the flour,
give us the craving
to take this old loaf we call the church,
and to season it with the spicing of your Spirit
that it might become new bread.

God of the yeast and the dough,
give us the recipe
to take this old loaf we call the church,
and to remake it with the kneading of your Spirit
that it might become new bread.

"But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them."
Luke 24:11, NRSV

"Y a ellos estas palabras les parecieron como disparates, y no las creyeron".
Lucas 24:11, Biblia de las Américas