Friday, July 31, 2015

“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



[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.

Sunday, July 26, 2015

“The Passover was near”

a second take on John 6:1-13


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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Wednesday, July 22, 2015

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


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


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.

%%%

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

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

A reflection and confession based on Mark 6:30-34
Edited for a sermon and this blog on 7/19/15

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 injuries.
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.

%%%

“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 un sermón y este blog el 7/19/15

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 injurias.
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



[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.