One in Faith/Uno en la Fe

 My friends, I began this blog in order to share with you an experience that some of you may never have a chance to. I have to say, that my time here in Guatemala has born nothing but good fruits- both academically, spiritually, humanly, and pastorally. As St. John wrote at the end of his Gospel, “There are also many other things Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.” This in a way is true for all of us who experience something, and only share a small amount- that is in a way what this blog has done- given you a taste, just a taste, of what another culture is like. 

However, let me remind ourselves as to why the blog is titled ‘One in Faith/Un en la Fe’- “I titled this blog ‘One in Faith’ in order to express that no matter the race, ethnicity, culture, diversity, color of skin, or wherever one may be in the world- we are the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. We are united in our Faith and belief in Jesus Christ, and we are a part of His Body, the Church- called by Him at our own Baptism to be disciples and help others to have the loving and personal encounter with Him.”(Pre-Game Travel). 

Being in Guatemala has helped me to understand more of what it means to be ‘One in Faith’. Yes, the people of Guatemala are a part of a different culture; yes, the people of Guatemala speak a different language; yes, the people of Guatemala have different traditions and practices; yes, the people of Guatemala may have a different view on the world; and yes, the people of Guatemala are ‘different’ than people in the United States- but honestly, who cares! Who cares that they have a different culture, or speak a different language, or have different traditions and practices, or have different opinions, or are just ‘different’- the truth of the matter is- we all practice the One Faith, we all have hope in the One True God, and we all experience the same love (in different ways and at different times) from the One Father, who sent his Son into the world in order to die for all, yes for all of humanity, in order for us to be united with him as One Family. 

It is our Faith in the one God- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit- that should bring us together, not divide us. God is not a division. Each person of the Trinity, though exercises a different ‘role’, does so in order for us to understand the intimate unity that exists between them. It is the same thing for us. We each have different traditions and practices, we each come from a different ‘culture’ or background, each of us has our own opinion of how things are done, each of us knows the phrase ‘we have always done it this way’. However, we need to remember that everything we do needs to be done and exercised in order to build of the ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC, and APOSTOLIC CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST. It’s not ‘my Church’, its not ‘Father Matthew’s Church’, its not ‘Pope Francis’s Church’- it is Christ’s Church. 

What he is asking us to do, with the meaning of the ‘Great Commission’ outlined at the end of Matthew’s Gospel, is to go out into the world, and to be One in Faith. To acknowledge and accept the practices of another culture, to learn from what other people have to offer, to actually experience the traditions and practices of another people, and to see the richness of the One Faith, though practiced differently, but to accept it and incorporate it into our own lives. Yes, incorporation is key because it shows that we are not sticking to what we are ‘comfortable with’. We need to be comfortable with being ‘uncomfortable’- meaning that in order to be ‘One in Faith’ we need to step out of our own comfort zone- hey, if the Apostles and Saints did it, why can’t we in the 21st century.

The people of Guatemala have a lot to offer us, much more than what I have written; but now it becomes our turn. What I have learned and experienced in this great nation, with these humble, prideful, and faithful people- a people who has accepted me into their home nation with absolute and total respect and love- I hope to God, that I will practice and exercise in my own Priesthood and share it with all of you. But I also hope, that we, my brothers and sisters, can learn to accept, grow, and practice other cultures, languages, ethnicities, practices and traditions, etc… and not just see them or ‘it’(the practices and traditions, etc…) as ‘another’ or ‘something else’. Rather we need to be ONE IN FAITH, and actually practice and preach what it truly means to be ONE IN FAITH- looking at each other, no matter who we are, where we are from, etc… and actually showing them LOVE. Remember, Christ died for all of humanity, with the same love that he has for all people- Saints and sinners alike. We need to express- through thought, word, and deed- that same love for all people.

Well, I will stop for now. If I have not set off a few fireworks with this post (or a volcano- Guatemalan reference), then I guess I may not have done my job!

I will hopefully publish one more post before I return to the United States (again, and emphasis on UNITED). I do plan to continue this blog regularly(at least once or twice a week, hopefully). Please continue to read this blog and please share it with your friends. 







Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Ancient and the Contemporary

As mentioned in my previous post, the Mayan culture and ceremonial actions were heavily influential in Guatemala’s cultural and religious practices. The Mayans established their culture and society around their religious practices and ceremonial sacrifices. Nothing the Mayans did was without a ceremonial purpose.  One of the beautiful things is that the Mayan culture, although no longer continues as it was in the past, still is active in a more contemporary way. Those who descended from the true Mayan culture continue to return to Tikal in order to offer sacrifice. In the past, their sacrifices were not just that of animals, but also human sacrifices as well in order to please the gods of the cosmos. Today, the Mayan people return for their ‘Holy Week’ to Tikal at the beginning of March. They spend one day sacrificing small animals (chickens, hamsters, birds, etc…) and spend about 5 days in prayer and contemplation. They have ceased doing human sacrifices today, but you can see all of
Read more

Day 1

 Well my friends, its official! I have begun the 6-week 5 hour a day Spanish Classes. So far- I am really enjoying it. The teacher has a lot to teach me, but the conversation, as well as the grammar, vocab, pronunciation, etc… she is giving me, is going to be of great benefit in the long run. I am super pumped for this experience. I see now, that, being immersed in a language is vital to learning it. Although you may learn it from a class  or a program, nothing compares to being immersed into a cultura and a language completely foreign to you. And you know what, the people know that you are learning, and it is their mission to help us to learn the language and culture as we enter into their own lives, in their own country, and on their own level. As Jesus was Baptized by John in the waters of the Jordan, he went into the muck of the Jordan river. A river that is not clean or sanitary by any means to show that, although he was God, he wanted to get on our level in order to experience wh
Read more

A Saintly and Blessed Place- Part III (Fiesta De Santiago)

 My brothers and sisters, Well, throughout my time here, I have experienced a number of opportunities- cultural, spiritual, historical, etc… and I do have to say, this experiences is far from over, and I have just hit the tip of the iceberg in introducing you all to a nation, to a people, and to a community that we are so far removed form, but we really are not. Yesterday, July 25, the people of Guatemala celebrated the Feast of Saint James- Fiesta De Santiago. For those who do not know who Saint James is, here is a very brief overview of who this man is. St. James was one of the original 12 Apostles who followed Christ. He was the brother of St. John, the beloved Apostle, and is known as James the Greater (there is a James the Lesser who becomes the first Bishop of Jerusalem.) St. James was one of the three that was present for the Transfiguraron of our Lord, Jesus’s Agony in the Garden (all the Apostles were there, but only three of them went on further with Jesus), and was present f
Read more