So, the kids told us that the altars should have representations of wind, water, fire, and earth; seven stair-type-thingies representing the seven deadly sins; a picture or representation of the deceased person receiving the offering; the favorite foods and the vices of the deceased... etc. I'd heard most of this before, and it always makes me angry because dead people are not going to come back for a day to eat little bits of food, drink alcohol, and put curses on you if you don't leave stuff set out for them. But I was REALLY horrified when the kid told us that three skull figures toward the middle of the altar represented the TRINITY!!!
Many Catholics in Mexico fully participate in the Day of the Dead, and Catholic churches set up altars. For them, Jesus is still dead (hence being represented by a skull). I'm not going to say anything about catholicsism in the US, but here in Mexico, there's just no way that you can say that Catholicsism is like Christianity. The entire base of the Christian faith is that Jesus rose from the dead! I don't have a relationship with a dead guy, but with Jesus who LIVES in heaven, and who's Holy Spirit lives in me and in all others who also have a relationship with Him. The kids showing us their altar made the altar as a "good deed" that is needed to EARN their way to heaven. People just can't (don't want to?) believe that you don't have to do all kinds of good crap so that God will let you go to heaven. I mean, we should do good stuff, but when we mess up, there's forgiveness directly from God, not from a priest of a saint. Sarah was telling one a young guy that lives by her that good deeds don't get you into heaven, but accepting forgiveness for sins from Jesus does. He looked at her weird, and pulled out a wallet-sized picture of the saint from his hometown with a prayer on the back, and told her that this saint would make sure he got to heaven... he hoped.
So, if you thought that Mexico is about as much of a Christian country as the USA, think again. I mean, morally, sometimes I think Mexico isn't as far in the hole as the US (and then sometimes I think it's the other way around), but as far as people who actually believe that Jesus is STILL alive after His ressurrection, and that they HAVE a relationship with Him... There's just not many. It's figured that 1.5% of people in Queretaro go to an Evangelical church regularly. So, how many people out of that percentage ACTUALLY have a relationship with Christ? We figure 1%, optimistically.
So that's why JP and I are here. And why we consider just the act of daily living as sharing the Gospel with others. LOTS of people here have NEVER heard the message of salvation!! (Like our friend Brenda...) In the USA, LOTS of people have actually heard the Message, they just choose to not accept it. But here, we have a huge opportunity to live the love of God in our daily lives, and explain Salvation to others.
Sarah and I were both on the verge of tears when the kids explained the skulls to us. It was hard for two gringas who grew up in Christian homes to even HEAR that the skulls are for the Trinity... Please keep praying for JP and I in our daily ministries, and for Sarah too, as she lives with and goes to class with lots of people who had never heard that Jesus is alive.
And, saturday, Sarah and I are going to the town of Guanajuato (2 hours from Queretaro), we're still seeing if there are any other girls who want to come with us, and I hope it's a good time of exploring the city and encouraging one another!
Sarah and our friend Amayrani:
3 comments:
Hi Jessica, I have written here before, but want to say I really enjoy reading your blog and about your life in Queretaro and how you are positively changing so many peoples' lives. You are doing amazing things!
As a Catholic Christian who spent 3.5 years living in Queretaro, and as someone married to a Catholic Christian who comes from a strong believing family of Mexican Catholic Christians, I take offense to the statement that Catholics think that Jesus is still dead. HE most definitely lives! In fact the profession of faith (aka Nicene Creed) that we pray at every mass reiterates this believe in the Holy Trinity, in the fact that Jesus suffered, died, and was buried and rose again and is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven. Curiously enough (hehe) this in fact is the same Creed that my parents (who are Methodists) say in their church.
Granted, this is not to say that there aren't many people in Mexico who are Catholics in name only, that are very confused/ misled about the faith they claim to follow, especially in respects to saints, the Virgin Mary, etc. But please understand that it is not accurate nor fair to say that Mexican Catholics (or Catholics in general) think Jesus is still dead, nor to say that there's not way Catholicism is like Christianity. I am proud to be a Catholic Christian - just like my friends back home are Methodist Christians, Lutheran Christians, etc. and I'm even happier to proclaim that HE Lives!! I'd be glad to give you the names of some young Catholic priests I know in Queretaro if you'd ever like to talk to them about this and learn what the Catholic church truly teaches.
Sorry, meant to include a link to the Nicene Creed I referred to (on a Catholic website, nonetheless)
http://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=1529
This is English, but I promise that the Spanish version is the same thing.
Becky, thanks for your comment, and thank you for being able to disagree in a very respectful way! :)
I'm very glad to hear that you believe in Jesus's resurrection. And now that you mention it, I HAVE heard the Nicene creed, which DOES mention that. However, I am unsure, then, as to why Catholic churches (at least all of the ones I've been in) have Jesus still on the cross. Here in Queretaro, NOTHING happens on resurrection Sunday. (Ok, they burn a statue of Judas) But on Holay Thursday and Friday there are tons of masses, and lots of reinactments of the crucifixion. It hurts my heart that the resurrection (in Queretaro, in general) is not celebrated publicly, while the crucifixion is heavily celebrated publicly. It really makes me wonder what the Church teaches, then, about the value of the resurrection. I have SO MANY friends, and even family members, who were raised going to mass every week, going to confession, having been baptized and confirmed, and even being altar boys, who always thought that Jesus just died and His spirit went to heaven, but since He isn't physically present, we must pray to the saints to interceed for us to Jesus/the Holy Trinity. (Even though the saints aren't physically present either?) Many (people who I know) who are no longer with the Catholic Church say that they were never taught the importance of Jesus' resurrection, nor of having a personal relationship with Him. They were taught that salvation comes by good works, and being baptized, etc. I realize that this may not be true of all catholics, as in your case I assume it is not, but it really is hard for me not to see some non-Biblical learnings in there.
Again, I appreciate your comment, and totally don't by any means, want to doubt your salvation or anything like that! YOU and GOD know your heart! :)
Post a Comment