PEACE AND WELL, LIVING WITHOUT FEAR

It was evening and it was dark but a thicker darkness loomed in the hearts of the disciples of the Master, there in a closed room the disciples of Jesus gathered the cover of darkness, where a reign of terror and anguish, with locked doors and barred thinking persecution, fear of what the authorities might do to them to be disciples of a revolutionary leader, a leader betrayed, tried, tortured and killed as Jesus of Nazareth.
These men were a community united by fear, fear is a skill, a defense mechanism, a primal instinct that was inoculated into the psyche of beings as a means of survival and escape to danger, a natural emotion and although not always very desirable if necessary, but there is a different and this fear is paralyzing fear, fear that enslaves us and dominate, not allowing your heart to live according to the abundant life of a Christian, takes away the welfare, takes away the freedom to do and be where you want, when you want, live every day under different fears and phobias, fear of job loss, fear of loneliness, fear of abandonment, fear of death, fear of ridicule, this fear to say that we have resigned ourselves to live and act in fear as a stranglehold on our lives, but fear is not a defense mechanism that allows you to survive in a world of danger and wild animals, is fear, is distrust, is insecurity about yourself and others, we live in a community that uses fear as a control and command other company seeking to mitigate. It was the fear that is shared.
They were a community united by the fear that when assembled, hidden, thinking and talking about their dark passions and fears is at that moment that makes his entrance comes one who had died, Jesus is there in the midst of them, he manages to enter in that group closed, fearful in this closed circle and gives a message:

- "Peace be with you!"

Peace In Greek says "EireneJumin" although it is likely that he said in Aramaic version "Shalom alejem" today in Palestinian and Arab ancestry people is common with this greeting formula "Salam Alejem" That the Peace be with you, Clearly Peace and Shalom was not with the disciples of Jesus and often not with us, and in Colombia we have not seen in many years, the fear and terror unites us is unfortunate when we are a community that lives by fear and not by love.

The Pax Romana peace there are many meanings of what we call peace, but now there is talk of peace talks in Havana Cuba, the threat of missiles in the Koreas seems that the Roman Pax would again show its ugly face armed spear, shield and gladius. The Roman Empire called Pax to exterminate their enemies by force and subjugation of the conquered, then every empire believes that God's peace is the absence of a conflict by the absence of someone who complains, is the peace of the cemetery.

The Eirene Greek philosophical Peace which is sung in many songs, a peace amid storms stoic way of dealing with problems so imperturbable, or indifference to these, a misinterpretation to the peace of Jesus in the midst of the storm when you already know how to cope with these, peace is indifferent than you think "if something goes wrong and I can not solve it then I will not worry, Hakuna matata,"Dont worry be happy"

Shalom, peace Hebrew was welfare, health and solidarity, not a passive Paz, is and was active, is based on love and compassion, passion shared by others and the community and does not promise no conflicts, does not tell have no fear or anxiety but gives you assurance of your faith and triumph over them, provides a kind of value that surpasses your fears.

Therefore Jesus' entry resurrected change this reality in chapter 20 and verse 20 of the Gospel of John says that Jesus showed them his hands and his side, and then they were glad and their fear began to fade, Jesus repeats:

- "Peace be with you!"

This was the apotheosis that to which were being tortured, beaten, betrayed, crucified and die now masaun was alive. The fear vanished, saw something never seen before death had been conquered
Perhaps there were certain and eternal words of Paul in their lives, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Life? Death ..?"

Today we'll talk about it Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Neither hunger nor pain, nor the danger or destruction can separate us from the love of Christ, now the fear is replaced by unhealthy peace and joy, insecurity for confidence. This first part of the chapter shows us a foretaste of Pentecost living with Jesus breathing on them the Holy Spirit and sent them the blessing and can no longer live in fear and can not live in isolation are called out of hiding and fulfill the mission . But there was still a part of this drama one of them was not locked, no one came that first Sunday, where was I? The Gospel of Thomas concealed that information, called the Twin, which talks about telling us something of the character of this disciple, Thomas Didymus was not a coward, Thomas the Twin knew what it meant to be with Jesus, he understood what his going to Jerusalem would mean he was able to see beyond the ingenuity of the other disciples of Jesus in John 11: 16 to go to see Jesus raising Lazarus tells his companions:

- "Let us also go to die with him."

He was not stupid, he knew what Jesus meant the decision, I knew what would happen to go to Jerusalem.
When Jesus appeared to the disciples, Thomas was not with them, so either I was not in Jerusalem or had lost the sense of meeting him if the teacher was not with them, so when they tell of the presence of Mr. , his pragmatism, and his fear of being deceived stands revealed, doubts the truth of the words of his companions and speaks the eternal words:

- "Until I put my finger in your nails and hand into his side will not believe"

Also today we live in distrust, in doubt, but between reasonable doubt and doubt cynical that no longer believes in anything, it's certainly possible changes in this reality of those who doubt that peace in Colombia is Possible , of those who doubt that we can switch to a better world, the fear of being deceived by those we love and those we love and which has rested on our confidence.
That second Sunday of Easter Jesus returns with them and makes them a new invitation, and especially to his reluctant disciple incredulous look, touch and feel, I do not play Tomas, apparently simply kneel and express to see Jesus:

- My Lord and My God.

God invites us to live today in confidence, to be a community, not led by fear or fear, but peace and love, faith in an abundant life, the life that is offered to us to live, but not closed community:
"Who shall separate us from his love?; What concepts do we turn away? ... Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, neither life nor death, nor angels nor powers.
Do not you find yourself needing your love?; Can not you see you need your forgiveness?; WOULD YOU you trusted your life today? Or live in fear?.
Today I say "Peace be with you"

"GRIEF AND THE AWAKENING" Easter Sunday Homily

introduction

The week before last, before the Easter died my landlord, Mr. Astolfo Buelvas, everyone called him "Adolf" was 90 years old but he was still strong and vigorous despite his frail appearance, her family faithful to the traditions of Sucre asked me to accompany him on the nine nights of vigil and lifting the altar, this custom that once years ago, was also in my hometown Barranquilla yet unknown to me, being a Presbyterian from birth, and even Catholic priests friends they said they did not see it but the syncretic Catholic custom of American Indian and African animists, but that lasted over time in some regions.

Believed and still do that the spirit of the deceased remained for nine nights with his things unless they are of a proper farewell and drink a glass of water on an altar ready and they should light the way with a candle etc.

A little disturbed by not being a part of our Christian custom went to the family and explain to them that it was not part of my tradition to celebrate such rites and yet if they wanted I would be praying and giving them consolation, bringing the word that gladly accepted, I would accompany them, I think is a part of the ministry that I have earned the bitter moments I have spent many mourners accompanying the ninth night fell right on Friday and presbyters and I did as pastor worship Friday Santo outdoors, there in the street of the neighborhood Bolivar in the front door of the family home who accompanied the readings of the seven words.

Sometimes when I explained that as a pastor I do not celebrate such rites to non church members often call a  “Rezandero” o "prayer leader" a person who prays several magic words for the lifting of the altar, but that night I called and asked me "you say goodbye to our father, Pastor, you should be in charge." and that Good Friday which marks the sacrifice of our Lord accept this call There on the table was a candle, a glass of water, a crucifix, a flower and a white robe in sign of the Cross. We pray in community and read 1 Thessalonians 4. appreciate the symbolism of this "altar" and asked that the family would get up together, skip the omens and beliefs and gave them the Gospel concerning the Holy Ghost fire always burning, life is extinguished but to light before the Lord, water likewise symbolizes purity and power of God's spirit returns to earth, the crucifix symbolizes the Lord's sacrifice for us and the white mantle hope and remembrance of his resurrection and ours, was solemn and fast, wept farewell, and all embraced, then understood the importance of mourning, I understood the hope of resurrection, understood amidst this world of duels and lightning fast funerals the importance of giving the pain your time and space.

                                    "GRIEF AND THE AWAKENING"

A woman's cry broke the silence in the solitude of the morning, looked disconsolate where he had lain his friend, his teacher, his body beaten and tortured had been taken from the tomb where he was to remain for eternity, and the disappointment of not having a place to mourn, to remember and to see him again but his body was cold and stiff bitterness filled her.

gone before early in the morning, two women had accompanied him, one was Juana and Maria was the other, the latter was the mother of James, another of the many disciples of his master, neither was there now. awaited them locked in a room frightened, but they had been there earlier themselves at risk of rape by soldiers or other FOUND that at that time, or the murder or the theft of expensive paper wearing a perfume. went to see the body by wearing perfume to anoint and wash the corpse of the man who was Jesus, full of courage to face the possible guard guarding the body.

I remember accompanying an elderly woman whose son had been missing for two years, she was one of the mothers "memory keepers" group of people seeking testing and data paramilitary crimes in the north and south of Sucre and son had been one of many victims of a notorious paramilitary Sucre known as Jorge 40, she and other mothers wore a shirt, a sweater wearing cotton printed a photograph of his son and the date of his "disappearance" in it , the young man was an activist of 28 years, she knew he was dead, I knew he had been killed but the grief in his heart was the fact that his son did not have a place to be crying and be buried. When I confronted the man who was deemed to acknowledge that he had done to his son, this story coolly as he had killed and his body was buried with many young nameless place beside the road , for her torture of three years had come to an end, there was still justice and reparation for the lost son but the rest to find even the bones of his son, full of consolation, that this had been the end found. That could finally mourn beside his grave and could finally make his unfortunate son mourning.

That reminds me or do a parallel in the endless feelings that might go through the mind of Magdalena to see the empty tomb, Luke reports that women's surprise was huge because two men in white garments simply told Jesus, not among the dead, He is risen-This statement rather than a joy filled them with terror, ran in the presence of strangers and it was told the other disciples, they took the body of our master, no longer!. - resurrected? you may not believe or even accept this possibility, apart from his master to kill him, robbed him rest in the earth, Peter and John ran to see for themselves the truth of these words, to reach the empty tomb knew, was true his body was gone, Peter was embittered possibly thought - "not even have respected her body" but the other disciple fell to his knees, something in her broken heart began to heal, understood that Jesus had risen. They were each with different thoughts about this, but Mary continued disconsolate.

Then there exposed as a single woman solo attack, one distraught and uncomprehending tears listening between the arrival of a man who said:  woman, what are you looking for?   In his pathetic desperation yell at you believed to be the gardener, looking for a hope of finding the body of his beloved teacher-Please tell me if you took it where it is, I beg you, I ask, between tears, man's response was call her by name: Mary! -The surprise of the woman must be capitalized, was he was in front of you, not a corpse, but he himself, his friend and teacher talking and comforting. . Maestro!

The mother of the young activist hope forensic report for finally recognizing the remains of her son, she would take the remains to rest next to her husband and her other son, they were not found, her son was not where should be, when the paramilitary command to kill the activists, one of them was wounded in the head but died, was buried, but in the middle of the night left the tomb under a torrential downpour, the road for miles and wound body covered with dirt and bruises, trauma had left him speechless and deaf, for two years the young stranger remained in an institution and then to recover. Without memory of his name or his past had been in a village near Urabá as a kitchen, two years later during the hearing of those murdered by paramilitaries acknowledged on television in his mind broken by firing a woman among the rest of people demanding justice and redress, recognized a face in photographs and among the missing and television, among people looking for her family, mother and son were found after four years, despite being a little stutter and deaf, and with blindness in his right eye hug his mother in the midst of tears and disbelief, her son had died and was now alive and a mother began to believe in the resurrection

The embrace of both Jesus and Mary Magdalene, have lasted an eternity, the embrace of Jesus the cupcake filled with joy, Reina Varela Version translates the voice of Jesus in Greek "I aptou mou" same Catholic version Latin: "Noli Me Tangere" and "do not touch me" a cutting phrase for someone who sees her risen Lord, other possible translations are "Let go" or rather prefer to believe that Jesus said not to stop - I will go to the father now tell my brothers that we will soon, Mary became the first apostle there sent his disciples with a message, "The Lord has risen" The comfort of the reason is that we think the safest bet. Without a shred of historical evidence or tangible to countless possibilities or possible explanations, to despair, hope against hope, we the church have believed that Jesus is risen! And we will rise along with it. Christ Lives!

“EL DUELO Y EL DESPERTAR” homilía de Resurrecion

INTRODUCCIÓN:

La semana antes pasada, antes de semana Santa murió mi arrendatario, el señor Astolfo Buelvas, todos lo llamábamos “Adolfo” tenia 90 años pero aun era fuerte y vigoroso a pesar de su frágil aspecto, su familia fiel a las costumbres ancestrales de Sucre me pidió que lo acompañara en las nueve noches de velación y en el levantamiento del altar, esta costumbre que alguna vez años ha, estuvo también en mi natal Barranquilla sin embargo desconocida para mi, por ser presbiteriano desde el nacimiento, y aun amigos sacerdotes católicos que consulte aseguraron que no es costumbre católica sino del sincretismo del indígena americano y africano animistas, pero que perduro en el tiempo en algunas regiones del país.

creían que el espíritu del difunto permanecía durante nueve noches junto a sus cosas a menos que se les de una despedida adecuada y bebe agua de un vaso dispuesto  en un altar y se les debe alumbrar el camino con una vela etc.

Un poco perturbado por no ser parte de nuestra costumbre fui a la familia y les explique que no era parte de mi tradición celebrar tales ritos y que  sin embargo si así lo querían  yo estaría con ellos orando y dándoles consolación, trayéndoles la palabra lo que aceptaron gustosos,  yo les acompañaría, creo que es una parte del ministerio que me he ganado con los amargos momentos que he pasado acompañando a tantos dolientes, la novena noche cayo justo en el viernes Santo y el consistorio y yo como pastor hicimos el culto de viernes Santo al aire libre, allí en plena calle del barrio Bolívar, frente a la casa de la familia, quienes acompañaron las lecturas de las siete palabras.

A veces cuando he explicado que como pastor yo no celebro tales ritos a los no miembros de la iglesia suelen llamar a un rezandero para este levantamiento del altar, pero en esa noche me llamaron y me pidieron: “despida usted a nuestro padre Pastor; usted debe ser el encargado”. y ese viernes santo que señala el sacrificio de nuestro Señor acepte este llamado Allí en la mesa había una la vela, un vaso de agua, un crucifijo, una flor y un manto blanco en señal de la Cruz . Oramos en comunidad y leí 1 de tesalonicenses 4. aprecie el simbolismo  de este “altar” y le pedí a la familia que levantáramos en conjunto, obvie los agüeros y creencias y les di el referente evangélico, el fuego del espíritu santo siempre ardiendo, su vida se extingue pero para alumbrar ante el señor, el agua que simboliza así mismo pureza y el poder del espíritu de Dios, vuelve a la tierra, el crucifijo que simboliza el sacrificio del señor por nosotros   y el manto blanco esperanza y recuerdo de su resurrección y la nuestra, fue solemne y rápido, lloraron como despedida, y todos se abrazaron, entendí  entonces la importancia del duelo, entendí la esperanza del resucitado, entendí en medio de este mundo de duelos light y rápidos funerales la importancia de darle al dolor su tiempo y espacio.

 “EL DUELO Y EL DESPERTAR”

El llanto de una mujer rompía el silencio en la soledad de la mañana, desconsolada veía el lugar donde había yacido su amigo, su maestro, su cuerpo golpeado y torturado había sido sacado de la tumba en la que debía permanecer por la eternidad, y el desconsuelo de no tener un lugar para llorarlo, para recordarlo y para verlo de nuevo aunque su cuerpo estuviese frio y yerto la llenaba de amargura.

había llegado antes muy temprano en la mañana, otras dos mujeres le habían acompañado, una era Juana y María era la otra, esta ultima  era la madre de santiago, otro de los muchos discípulos de su maestro, ninguno de ellos estaba ahora allí. ellos aguardaban asustados encerrados en una habitación, pero ellas habían estado allí mas temprano exponiéndose al riesgo de una violación por parte de los soldados u otro que las encontrase a esa hora, o al asesinato o al robo del costoso articulo que llevaban, un perfume. fueron a ver el cuerpo llevando perfumes para ungir y lavar el cadáver del hombre que fue Jesús, llenas de valor a enfrentar a la posible guardia que cuidaba el cuerpo.

Recuerdo que estuve acompañando a una anciana cuyo hijo había sido desaparecido hacia dos años, ella era una de las madres “guardianas de la memoria” grupo de personas que buscaba pruebas y datos de los crímenes paramilitares en el norte y sur de Sucre y su hijo había sido una de las tantas victimas de de un infame paramilitar en Sucre conocido como jorge 40, ella junto a otras madres llevaba una camisa, un suéter de algodón que llevaba estampada una fotografía de su hijo y la fecha de su “desaparición” en ella, el joven era un activista de 28 años,  ella sabia que el estaba muerto, sabia que había sido asesinado pero el desconsuelo en su corazón era el hecho que su hijo no tenia un lugar donde ser llorado y ser sepultado. Cuando le hizo frente al hombre que era juzgado para que este reconociera lo que había hecho a su hijo, este relato con sangre fría como le había matado y que su cadáver estaba enterrado junto a otros tantos jóvenes sin nombre, en un lugar junto al camino, para ella la tortura de tres años había llegado a su fin, aun quedaba la justicia y la reparación por el hijo perdido pero el descanso de encontrar aunque sea los huesos de su hijo, la lleno de consuelo, de que este había sido al fin encontrado. Que al fin podría llorar junto a su tumba y al fin podría hacer un duelo por su malogrado hijo.

Eso me hace recordar o hacer un paralelo en el sin fin de sentimientos que pudieron pasar por la mente de Magdalena al ver la tumba vacía, Lucas relata que la sorpresa de las mujeres fue mayúsculo pues dos hombres de blancas vestiduras le dijeron sencillamente -Jesús, no esta entre los muertos, El ha resucitado- Esta afirmación en vez de ser un motivo de gozo las lleno de terror, corrieron ante la presencia de los desconocidos y le avisaron a los demás discípulos: -se llevaron el cuerpo de nuestro maestro, ¡ya no esta!.- ¿resucitado? es posible que no creyeran o ni siquiera aceptaran esta posibilidad, a su maestro aparte de matarlo, le robaban el descanso en la tierra, Pedro y Juan corrieron a comprobar por si mismos la veracidad de estas palabras, al llegar al sepulcro vació lo supieron,  era cierto su cuerpo había desaparecido, Pedro se lleno de amargura posiblemente pensó  -”ni siquiera su cuerpo han respetado” pero el otro discípulo cayo de rodillas, algo en su corazón roto empezó a sanar, entendido que Jesús había resucitado. Se fueron cada uno con diferentes pensamientos acerca de esto, mientras María continuo desconsolada.

Entonces allí expuesta como mujer sola a un ataque en solitario, sola desconsolada y sin comprender  escucho entre las lagrimas la llegada de un hombre que le decía: Mujer ¿a quien buscas?. En su patética desesperación le grito al que creyó ser el hortelano, buscando una esperanza de encontrar el cuerpo amado de su maestro -Por favor si tu lo tomaste dime donde esta, te lo ruego, -pregunto entre las lagrimas, la respuesta del hombre fue llamarla por su nombre:

-¡María! -la sorpresa de la mujer debió ser mayúscula, era él, estaba enfrente suyo, no un cadáver, sino él en persona, su amigo y maestro hablándole y consolándola. .¡Maestro!

La madre del joven activista espero el informe de medicina legal para que reconociera al fin los restos de su hijo, los restos que ella llevaría a descansar junto a los de su esposo y su otro hijo, estos no fueron encontrados, su hijo no estaba donde debía estar, cuando el paramilitar mando a matar a los activistas, uno de ellos fue herido en la cabeza pero no murió, fue sepultado, pero en medio de la noche salio de la tumba bajo un aguacero torrencial, camino por kilómetros con la herida y el cuerpo lleno de tierra y golpes, el trauma le había dejado sin habla, y sordo, durante dos años el joven desconocido permaneció en una institución y luego al recuperarse. Sin tener recuerdo de su nombre ni de su pasado se había quedado en un pueblo cerca de Uraba  antioqueño como ayudante de cocina, dos años después durante la audiencia a los asesinados por los paramilitares reconoció en televisión en su mente descompuesta por el disparo a una mujer entre el resto de personas que clamaban justicia y reparación, reconoció un rostro entre las fotografías y de entre los desaparecidos y en televisión, entre las personas que buscaban a su familia- madre e hijo se encontraron después de cuatro años, el a pesar de estar un poco tartamudo y sordo, y con un ceguera en su ojo derecho abrazo a su madre en medio del llanto y la incredulidad; Su hijo habia muerto y ahora estaba  vivo y una madre  empezó a creer en la resurrección.

El abrazo de los dos Jesús y María Magdalena, debió durar una eternidad, el abrazo de la magdalena a Jesús la lleno de gozo, La versión Reina Varela traduce en la voz de Jesús el griego “Me mou aptou” lo mismo la versión católica en latín: “Noli me tangere” como “no me toques” una frase cortante para alguien que ve a su señor resucitado, otras traducciones posibles son “Suéltame” o mejor  prefiero creer que Jesús le dijo -no en detengas -  yo iré al padre ahora dile a mis hermanos que nos veremos pronto- María se convirtió allí en la primera apóstol enviada a sus discípulos con un mensaje ; “el señor ha resucitado”  La comodidad de la razón es que nos parece la apuesta mas segura. Sin una pizca de pruebas históricas o tangibles ante un sinnúmero de posibilidades o explicaciones posibles, ante la desesperanza,esperanza contra esperanza; nosotros la iglesia hemos creído  que Jesús ha resucitado! Y nosotros con él juntamente resucitaremos. ¡Cristo Vive!