“The bread of life” / “El pan de vida”

A reflection and confession based on John 6:24-35

Hawaiian bread offered for communion at a retreat. / Pan hawayano ofrecido para la comunión en un retiro. 

by Magdalena I. García

African cassava bread and injera

American cornbread and quick bread

Colombian pandebono and buñuelos[i]

Cuban bread and panecitos de arroz[ii]

Dominican Republic pan de avena and pan de coco[iii]

Ecuadorian guaguas de pan[iv] and rodillas de Cristo[v]

English muffins and scones

French baguette and brioche

German pretzel and pumpernickel bread

Greek pita and sesame bread rings

Indian naan and chapati

Italian ciabatta and focaccia

Irish brown bread and soda bread

Jewish matzo and challah

Mexican corn tortillas and pan dulce[vi]

Puerto Rican pan de agua and pan de mallorca[vii]

Venezuelan arepas[viii] and pan de jamón[ix]

I have tasted these breads,

noticing how often our identity

is shaped by recipes.

I have craved these breads,

acknowledging how often our minds

are focused on the stomach.

I have savored these breads,

realizing how often our hunger

is distracted by the material.

I have eaten these breads,

observing how often our faith

is anchored on symbols.

I have shared these breads,

marveling at how often our well-being

is nourished in community.

I have offered these breads,

remembering how often our beliefs

are kneaded around the table.

Forgive us, Sustaining God, for seeking

satisfaction amidst the perishable;

nourishment amidst the inorganic;

assurance amidst the provisional.

Send your manna, call us to the feast,

and remind us one more time

that you are the food we long to eat.

You are the bread of life.

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“El pan de vida”

Una reflexión y confesión basada en Juan 6:24-35

por Magdalena I. García

Pan de yuca e injera africanos

Pan de maíz y pan rápido americanos

Pandebono y buñuelos colombianos

Pan de barra y panecitos de arroz cubanos

Pan de avena y pan de coco dominicanos

Guaguas de pan y rodillas de Cristo ecuatorianos

Muffins y scones ingleses

Baguette y brioche franceses

Pretzel y pan pumpernickel alemanes

Pan de pita y roscas con sésamo griegos

Panes planos naan y chapati hindúes

Panes ciabatta y focaccia italianos

Pan moreno y de soda irlandeses

Pan matzá y jalá judíos

Tortillas de maíz y pan dulce mexicanos

Pan de agua y de mallorca puertorriqueños

Arepas y pan de jamón venezolanos

He probado estos panes,

y noto que a menudo nuestra identidad,

se moldea con las recetas.

He apetecido estos panes,

y reconozco que a menudo nuestra mente

se enfoca en el estómago.

He saboreado estos panes,

y admito que a menudo nuestra hambre

se distrae con lo material.

He comido estos panes,

y observo que a menudo nuestra fe

se ancla en los símbolos.

He compartido estos panes,

y me maravillo que a menudo nuestro bienestar

se nutre con la comunión.

He ofrecido estos panes,

y recuerdo que a menudo nuestras creencias

se amasan alrededor de la mesa.

Perdónanos, Dios Sustentador, por procurar

satisfacción entre lo perecedero;

nutrición entre lo inorgánico;

seguridad entre lo provisional.

Envía tu maná, llámanos a la fiesta,

y recuérdanos una vez más

que tú eres del hambre la respuesta.

Tú eres el pan de vida.

© Magdalena I. García

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[i] Cheese bread and cheese fritters.

[ii] Rice rolls.

[iii] Oatmeal bread and coconut bread.

[iv] Sweet bread figures, shaped like babies or dolls, made for All Saints’ Day.

[v] Literally “Christ’s knees,” rolls topped with cheese that resemble a knee roughened from kneeling.

[vi] Sweet rolls in different shapes, often sprinkled with colored sugar.

[vii] Water bread and sweet rolls.

[viii] Griddle-fried corn cakes.

[ix] Ham and olive roll made especially at Christmas.

“The Passover was near”

a second take on John 6:1-13

The feeding of the five thousand, by John Reilly (1928-2010). 
Internet image.

by Magdalena I. García

The Passover was near

as they gathered on the hill

and noticed a large crowd.

The Passover was near

as they pondered the responsibility

of feeding so many mouths.

The Passover was near

as they noticed the amiability

of an obscure boy in the crowd.

The Passover was near

as they recognized the availability

of simple gifts of bread and fish.

The Passover was near

as they considered the possibility

of inviting the people to sit down.

The Passover was near

as they thanked God with humility

for the miracle of a shared feast.

The Passover was near

as they distributed with agility

the elements of the meal.

The Passover was near

as they worried about sustainability

and gathered up the fragments.

But when the fearful disciples

could only see the liability

of looking after so many mouths

then the Passover was far.

The great festival of liberation

is always accessible, close-at-hand, nearby

for those who are no longer enslaved

by an apathetic, selfish heart.

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“A drop in the bucket” / “Una gota en el balde”

A reflection and confession based on John 6:1–13

First published on 7/21/15 by PresbyteriansToday Magazine blog: Reimagining the church

Kitchen scraps can feed multiple families of backyard birds. mig / Las sobras de la cocina pueden alimentar a varias familias de pájaros del patio. mig

by Magdalena I. García

We’ve heard the legend
of the straw that broke the camel’s back.
It’s an Arabian fable about a merchant
who overestimated the limit of capacity.
One wisp was too much,
and it overcame the strength
of the beast crushed by the burden.

And we’ve read the tale
of the drop that filled the bucket.
It’s a Gospel narrative about a disciple
who underestimated the limit of generosity.
Five loaves and two fish seemed too little,
but they satisfied the stomachs
of the people burdened with hunger.

Forgive us, Doubling God,
for doubting your willingness
to duplicate our offerings.
Forgive us, Increasing God,
for doubting your ability
to multiply our drop in the bucket.

Forgive us, Abundant God,
for hiding behind scarcity
to avoid sharing our assets.
Forgive us, Accepting God,
for discounting the gifts from strangers
to treat them as a drop in the bucket.

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“Una gota en el balde”

Una reflexión y confesión basada en Juan 6:1–13 

Publicada originalmente el 7/21/15 por el blogde la revista Presbyterians Today: Reimagining the church 

por Magdalena I. García

Hemos leído la leyenda
de la paja que quebró la espalda del camello.
Es una fábula árabe sobre un mercader
que sobreestimó el límite de la capacidad.
Un mechón fue demasiado
y venció la fuerza
de la bestia agobiada por la carga.

Y hemos leído el relato
de la gota que llenó el balde.
Es una narrativa del evangelio sobre un discípulo
que subestimó el límite de la generosidad.
Cinco panes y dos peces parecieron muy poco,
pero satisficieron los estómagos
de la gente agobiada por el hambre.

Perdónanos, Dios Redoblador,
por dudar de tu voluntad
para duplicar nuestras ofrendas.
Perdónanos, Dios Incrementador,
por dudar de tu habilidad
para multiplicar nuestra gota en el balde.

Perdónanos, Dios Abundante,
por escondernos detrás de la escasez
para evitar compartir nuestros bienes.
Perdónanos, Dios Aceptador,
por descartar los dones de los desconocidos
para tratarlos como una gota en el balde.

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“Move us to compassion” / “Muévenos a compasión”

A reflection and confession based on Mark 6:30-34

First published on 7/14/15 by PresbyteriansToday Magazine blog:Reimagining the church

Edited for this blog

A bird shows compassion by keeping watch over her nest at dusk. / Un pájaro muestra compasión al vigilar su nido al atardecer.

by Magdalena I. García

The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them,[i] because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. –Mark 6:30-34

apathy says

others can do it

let’s get away;

compassion says

we can do it

let’s get involved

apathy says

there is a shortage

let us save;

compassion says

there is enough

let us share

apathy says

there are dangers

let us be cautious;

compassion says

there are risks

let us be vulnerable

apathy says

live and let die

alone they can survive;

compassion says

live and let live

together we can thrive

apathy says

they are spoiled

they deserve their fate;

compassion says
they are exhausted
they deserve a break

apathy says

there will be no gain

unless you experience pain;

compassion says

there will be no justice

unless we remove the chains 

Forgive us, Caring God,

for numbing our senses 
and failing to see

how the hunger of the world

intersects with our own greed.

Forgive us, Tender God,

for hardening our hearts 
and failing to perceive

how the wounds of the world

intersect with our own offences.
Forgive us, Embracing God,
for closing our minds
and failing to discern  
how the struggles of the world
intersect with our own passivity.

Twist our insides,[ii]

strengthen our will,

and move us to compassion.
Give us ears to hear and eyes to see
the suffering of your sheep
wandering everywhere.

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“Muévenos a compasión”

Una reflexión y confesión basada en Marcos 6:30-34

Publicada originalmente el 7/14/15 por el blogde la revista Presbyterians Today:Reimagining the church
Editada para este blog

por Magdalena I. García

Los apóstoles se reunieron con Jesús y le contaron todo lo que habían hecho y enseñado. Jesús les dijo: “Vengan conmigo ustedes solos, a un lugar apartado, y descansen un poco”. Y es que tanta gente iba y venía, que ellos no tenían tiempo ni para comer. Así que se fueron solos en una barca a un lugar apartado. Pero muchos que los vieron partir los reconocieron y los siguieron a pie desde las ciudades. Llegaron antes que ellos, y se reunieron con él. Cuando Jesús salió de la barca y vio a tanta gente, tuvo compasión de ellos,[iii] porque parecían ovejas sin pastor, y comenzó entonces a enseñarles muchas cosas. –Marcos 6:30-34

la apatía dice

otros lo harán

alejémonos;

la compasión dice

nosotros lo haremos

involucrémonos

la apatía dice

hay escasez

ahorremos;

la compasión dice

hay suficiente

compartamos

la apatía dice

hay peligros

seamos cautelosos;

la compasión dice

hay riesgos

seamos vulnerables

la apatía dice

vive y deja morir

solos pueden sobrevivir;

la compasión dice

vive y deja vivir

juntos podemos prosperar

la apatía dice
están mimados

merecen su destino;

la compasión dice
están extenuados

merecen un respiro

la apatía dice
no habrá ganancia

a menos que aguantes la aflicción;

la compasión dice
no habrá justicia
a menos que removamos la opresión

Perdónanos, Dios Afectuoso,

por entumecer nuestros sentidos 
y no poder ver

como el hambre del mundo

se entrecruza con nuestra propia avaricia.

Perdónanos, Dios Tierno,

por endurecer nuestros corazones 
y no poder percibir

como las heridas del mundo

se entrecruzan con nuestras propias ofensas.

Perdónanos, Dios Acogedor,

por cerrar nuestras mentes
y no poder discernir

como las luchas del mundo

se entrecruzan con nuestra propia pasividad.

Retuerce nuestras entrañas,[iv]

fortalece nuestra voluntad

y muévenos a compasión.
Danos oídos para oír y ojos para ver
el sufrimiento de tu rebaño 
errante por doquier.

© Magdalena I. García

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[i] The Greek verb splagchnizomai means “to be moved in the inward parts, to feel compassion,” according to Strong’s Concordance (http://biblehub.com/greek/4697.htm).

[ii] A reference to the verb splagchnizomai, from verse 34.

[iii] El verbo griego splagchnizomai significa “ser movido en las entrañas, sentir compasión”, según la concordancia de Strong (http://bibliaparalela.com/greek/4697.htm).

[iv] Una referencia al verbo splagchnizomai del versículo 34.