 |
| Norma attending the Easter service in Xochitepec |
To say, “I believe in Jesus Christ…who rose from the dead,”
then, is to say I believe that the Resurrection goes on and on and on forever.
Every time Jesus rises in our own hearts in new ways, the Resurrection happens
again. Every time we see Jesus where we did not recognize him before—in the
faces of the poor, in the love of the unloved, in the revelatory moments of
life—Jesus rises anew. But that is not all. The real proof of the Resurrection
lies not in the transformation of Jesus alone but in the transformation
awaiting us who accept it. To say, “I believe in Jesus Christ…who rose
from the dead” is to say something about myself at the same time. It says that
I myself am ready to be transformed. Once the Christ-life rises in me, I rise
to new life as well…Resurrection is about transfiguration.
 |
| Children in Alcamani playing during Holy Week |
This transformation/transfiguration spoken of
by Joan Chittister is nowhere more evident in the mountains of Guerrero than
during Holy Week. All of the villages have their customs and traditions; it is
rare that there be no procession on Palm Sunday or celebration of the Last
Supper on Holy Thursday or via crucis
(way of the cross) on Good Friday.
 |
| Palm Sunday procession in Xochitepec |
 |
| Veronica wipes the face of Jesus in the via crucis in Pozolapa |
Of course, there are often differences. For
example, it is not uncommon to have a “washing of the hands” ceremony on Holy
Thursday rather than the washing of the feet. The same sense of service and loving-kindness
is shared. And the bread and wine used by Jesus at the Last Supper often
becomes tortillas or crackers and Pepsi or juice in the villages.
 |
| Foot-washing service in Llano de la Parota |
This year hundreds of young people (and a few
not so young) from other areas of Mexico visited the mountains during Holy Week
and lived in different villages. I spent the week in the parish of Xochitepec,
where every one of the 26 villages of the parish received such a contingent of
young people. These young people coordinated the Holy Week services with the
local leaders, and they visited families, and they interacted with children,
youth, and adults.
 |
| Young people journeying to the mountains in the Mission Mexico truck |
 |
| One group of young people in Aguaxoco: Bart, Ita, Edgar, Edilberto, Coco |
My admiration for the sacrifices endured by
these young people is beyond measure. They had to adapt to local ways of living
in an area of scarcity, and everyone not only endured the experience—they loved
the experience. If church is about community, they built community. If church
is about love, they witnessed to love.
 |
| Children in Aguaxoco participating with the young people from Tlapa |
I was privileged to accompany Father Vicente, a
Missionary of the Holy Spirit, as we went around during the week to see how the
different groups of young people were doing. It was amazing to see the joy not
only of the young people, but of all of the members of the villages where the
young people were living.
 |
Father Vicente is in his first year of service in Xochitepec. The past four years he was
studying Canon Law in Madrid, Spain. Just a little contrast... |
Of course, Vicente and I couldn’t “hit the road”
without our favorite copilot, Ramiro, an architect from Mexico City who comes
each year to Xochitepec for Holy Week. Ramiro is a great artist, and he brought
with him all kinds of paints, paper, brushes, markers, crayons, etc. The joy he
brought to hundreds of children who were able to express their creativity in
color was immense. I daresay that most architects spend Holy Week vacationing
at some beach; Ramiro and his wife, Beatriz, and their daughter Maria, and
Maria’s boyfriend Eduardo spent the week helping to bring transformation to the
lives of the indigenous people in this impoverished mountain region.
 |
| Ramiro—an incredible human being! |
 |
| Painting in the village of Plan Ranchito |
It was a most tiring but rewarding week.
Resurrection hope was rekindled in the lives of many. Lives—of the young people
visiting? of the people in the villages? mine?—were hopefully transformed and
transfigured. Hopefully all of us are strengthened in our resolve to work for
and witness to the new life that every human being should be joyfully
experiencing. That is my wish for all of the people who read this note. Happy
Easter!
 |
| Jesus crucified between the two thieves in Pozolapa |
 |
| New flame—new life—kindled in Xochitepec |
 |
| Easter morning in Xochitepec |
No comments:
Post a Comment