No more killings of innocent December 26, 2010
Sunday 1 º after Christmas. A. Year
Christmas Peace requires courageous resistance and action against all the forces and institutions that destroy the sons and daughters of God.
Honestly, this week's readings worry us. How we spend Christmas and the celebration of the Incarnation, the glorification of death and murder of children?
What is your initial response, in your head and your heart, Matthew 2: 13-23, which is sometimes called "The Flight into Egypt" or "The Massacre of the Innocents"?
Matthew 2: 13-23 passed a plan to kill Jesus the killing of other children instead. Hebrews 2: 10-18 introduces the doctrine of atonement and presents Jesus, no as a revolutionary leader and hope of liberation from oppression for the people, but as a priest / lamb to be slaughtered and killed. It is a strong contrast in the midst of these murders, the lectionary we also present two hymns of praise ( Isaiah 63: 7-9 Psalm 148 and ) for what God has done. How can we still sing "Praise God" in the midst of all this death?
Dreams play a key role in the reading of Matthew. Joseph was told in a dream to flee to Egypt (verse 13) and then in another dream, to return (verse 19). In the midst of these dreams, we are told kill of innocent children, when Herod seeks to destroy the new ruler is born.
Where can escape the LGBT and other oppressed people, when there are plans to kill? Who protected the LGBT people where the AIDS pandemic hit the country? Who is today, Rachel weeping for her children bereft now that the face of AIDS has changed from gay white men, poor black women? Who refuses to be comforted? Or have we become the chorus of "Praise God" from Psalm 148 and Isaiah 63, while death is still around us? And what happened to the joy of Christmas?
What we do with the portrait of a God who warns of impending disaster, but not others? And what about a "Holy Family fleeing without telling their neighbors? Is it the symbol of those who can afford expensive treatments and retro-viral cocktails moving forward and not worrying about those who can not afford the medication.
Have there been times when you've chosen to remain silent in the face of oppression and who now wish to have spoken? How could guide the situation differently, if he were to occur?
Amid the joy of Christmas, when God appears to us in human form, we must strive to see how we can stop the senseless deaths and increase the weeping disconsolately. We cry out against the actions of churches such as the Windsor Report within the Anglican and Episcopal tradition, which does not assert God's holy work by LGBT people. We cry when governments withdraw money from campaigns to prevent HIV / AIDS to be devoted to abstinence-only policies. We must increase efforts to strengthen the LGBT youth coming out of the closet and are expelled from their families, to depression and suicide is not the way forward. We must protest against local school boards try to eliminate books dealing with family diversity curriculum and libraries. We cry and cry out against the wars where the daughters and sons of God most vulnerable, whether or not LGBT-are sacrificed in the national interest. We must become the Raquel of our time.
is surprising that the male figures in these readings (Joseph to flee with his family in Matthew, Christ dying on Hebrews 2: 17-18) propose the suffering as a way of life. The only role given to women in these passages is to worship together with men (Psalm 148: 12) and Rachel, which calls for community awareness of the horrors that are happening around them. The option to flee to save yourself is not conducive to the community. Leads to a senseless death. The option of singing praises in the midst of trials in the community, seems to be a religious choice that leads to avoid connecting with others in struggle. The choice of inconsolable crying, however, tends to resist oppression and to call the community awareness.
Our faith has to give us the strength to stand up against Herod of our time and say, "You can not massacre any more of our sons and our daughters." Our churches should be in solidarity with all who are oppressed and give them space cry. Together we must work to bring life where death other hatch. Our songs must be songs of protest that lead people to see our common struggle against oppression. These ethnic groups, which are made by conservative groups to end LGBT groups should review their appropriation of racist stereotypes. The voices of women should take action beyond mourn and groan, to give meaning to the struggles as well. We all must overcome the urge to flee to save ourselves and unite to save everyone.
is in these struggles for justice where all find life to keep alive the hope of Christmas.
¿Para qué lloras o desearías poder llorar en el mundo? Después de reflexionar en las lecturas para hoy, ¿ qué quieres decirle a Dios? ¿Qué cosas te ves en la obligación de hacer?
Oración inclusiva
Dios de todas las hijas e hijos del mundo,
para la matanza de inocentes.
Perdona que nosotros mismos fallemos
en proteger a tus hijas e hijos de la muerte.
Danos fuerza y valor
para llorar por quienes sufren
and to resist oppression.
Give us a holy determination to save the lives
of those who are considered expendable.
Enable us to live boldly the good news of Christmas.
May the joy to come and sing with everyone: "Peace on Earth!".
In the name of Jesus, our Peace. Amen.
