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justleros: more than nonsense / más que disparates

Abundant life

A Revised Common Lectionary resource for May 7

By Magdalena I. García

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A sculpture of an endless or eternal knot, which symbolizes connection and wisdom, on display at the Mosaic of Lakeshore, a nursing facility in Chicago. / Una escultura de un nudo infinito o eterno, que simboliza la conexión y la sabidur&iacute...

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” – John 10:10

Read the full lectionary passages here

We have been offered abundant life

but we settle instead for

gourmet food and pleasant sensations,

designer clothing and cosmetic surgery,

exotic vacations and luxurious housing,

reward power and accumulated wealth,

sheltered lives and incessant praise.

And in order to achieve

all these things we often

consume more and enjoy less,

owe more and save less,

travel more and engage less,

work more and sleep less,

fear more and risk less.

All the while failing to realize

that in trying to escalate

to the top of the world,

or to distance ourselves

from the struggles of the world,

we allow the thieves who traffic in lies

to rob us of the opportunity

to feel really alive

by loving our neighbors

and sharing their lot.

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Magdalena I. García is a PC(USA) Minister of Word and Sacrament and a hospice chaplain for Vitas Healthcare in Chicago. She is a graduate of McCormick Theological Seminary and a recipient of the 2008 PC(USA) Women of Faith Award. Her personal blog is justleros.blogspot.com. Permission is given to use the content in worship with credit to the author and blog. For permission to re-print through other means, please write to magdalenagarcia@comcast.net.


Vida abundante

Un recurso para la liturgia dominical del 7 de mayo

por Magdalena I. García

El ladrón no viene sino para hurtar, matar y destruir; yo he venido para que tengan vida, y para que la tengan en abundancia. – Juan 10:10

Lea el pasaje aquí: John 10:1-10

Se nos ha ofrecido vida abundante

pero a menudo nos conformamos con

comida gourmet y sensaciones placenteras,

ropa de marca y cirugía cosmética,

vacaciones exóticas y vivienda lujosa,

poder de recompensa y acumulación de riqueza,

vidas resguardadas y elogios incesantes.

Y para poder alcanzar

todas estas cosas a menudo

consumimos más y disfrutamos menos,

debemos más y ahorramos menos,

viajamos más y compartimos menos,

trabajamos más y dormimos menos,

tememos más y arriesgamos menos.

Entretanto fallamos en reconocer

que al tratar de escalar

hasta la cima del mundo,

o de distanciarnos

de las luchas del mundo,

permitimos que los ladrones que trafican mentiras

nos roben la oportunidad

de sentirnos verdaderamente vivos, vivas

al amar a nuestros vecinos y vecinas

y compartir su suerte.

Magdalena I. García es Ministra de la Palabra y los Sacramentos en la IP(EUA) y capellana de hospicio para Vitas Healthcare en Chicago. Se graduó del Seminario Teológico McCormick y recibió el Premio a las Mujeres de Fe de su denominación en el 2008. Su blog personal es justleros.blogspot.com. Se concede permiso para usar el contenido en la adoración dando crédito a la autora y al blog. Para reproducir por otros medios, escriba a: magdalenagarcia@comcast.net.

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