Mi Primera Predica

I had two opportunities to preach this, my first sermon. The first time was at a bi-lingual service this past Sunday. I preached at the church I had been attending, Iglesia Nueva Jerusalen, and it was wonderful that so many smiling faces were there. However, the weather did not cooperate and there was a crazy rainstorm throughout my entire sermon. The roofs here are tin, so the sound of rain is amplified throughout the building. I couldn’t hear myself talk because the speakers were facing the congregation, but I have heard that people could in fact hear me. I’ve gotten compliments on it and would welcome your feedback!

The second time I preached this was at Iglesia Roca Eterna. Basically this time was because I can’t say no to nice pastors who ask me to do something (someday I have to learn this amazing skill that so many pastors have (getting people to do things while being really really nice about it)… does Duke have a class on that?). Anywho, I went to the women’s service at Roca Eterna on Tuesday night with my mom, Mari, and I met Pastor José. When he found out that I had preached at Nueva Jerusalen, he said “Oh, well you have to preach here! How about tomorrow?” And that’s how I got signed up to preach at the “men’s” service. (Anyone can go, but it is led by men.) Pastor José asked me to change my message so that it reflected service in the church, so I mildly changed my sermon; basically just added a couple of paragraphs. This service I preached only in Spanish, and it was so wonderful to be able to share my thoughts with these people in their language. I had many people come up to me after the service saying that they appreciated my reflection.

And I must admit that when I’m not worrying about the weather and when I can actually hear myself speak- I really like preaching! I’m sure this comes as no surprise to my parents who, since I was 5 and enthusiastically played my part as the letter “T” in my Kindergarten play, knew that I would find myself in some sort of career that involved talking in front of people. I suppose this a good thing, considering what I want to do with my life. :-)

Preaching in Spanish was/is a lot of fun! Although I couldn’t say everything that I wanted to, I think I said enough. I wrote it in Spanish first, then translated it into English (the language teacher in me wouldn’t have it any other way!). So here it is, for your perusal, both in Spanish and English. The parts in brackets were added in for the Wednesday night service. Enjoy!

At Nueva Jerusalen

At Roca Eterna

¡Dios les bendiga! Por favor, oren conmigo.

Pray with me.

Sean gratos los dichos de mi boca y la meditación de mi corazón delante de ti, oh Señor, roca mía, y redentor mío.

May the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be acceptable in your sight oh Lord my rock and my redeemer. Amen.

Buenas tardes hermanos y hermanas. Me llamo Christa Levesque, y soy estudiante de pastorado en la Universidad de Duke. He estado aquí en Ahuachapán por cinco semanas, y me queda una semana más con ustedes. Durante mi tiempo aquí he tomado las clases de español y también he trabajado con la Iglesia Evangélica Metodista de El Salvador. He traducido para los grupos que han venido de los Estados Unidos; en la escuela bíblica y las clínicas medicas. He vivido con la hermana Mari y su familia. Me he divertido mucho aquí, y voy a extrañar al pueblo Salvadoreño. [Es un placer estar con ustedes esta noche. Agradezco al Pastor José por la oportunidad de compartir la palabra de Dios.]

Good evening! My name is Christa Levesque, and I am studying to be a pastor at Duke Divinity School. I have been here in Ahuachapán for five weeks, and I have one week left with you all. During my time here I have taken Spanish classes and I have also worked with the Evangelical Methodist Church of El Salvador. I have translated for groups who have come from the United States in Bible school and medical clinics. I’ve lived with our wonderful sister Mari and her family. I have enjoyed my time here very much, and I will miss the El Salvadorian people. [It is a pleasure to be with you all tonight. I am grateful to Pastor José for the opportunity to share scripture with you.]

Recordemos la lectura de hoy.  Es una lectura del Evangelio de San Lucas: capitulo diez, versículos del treinta y ocho al cuarenta y dos. Tenemos a dos personajes bien conocidos: Marta y María. En esta historia, Jesús entró en una aldea, un pueblo; como Ahuachapán. Una mujer llamada Marta invitó a Jesús a su casa; ella abrió la puerta y lo acogió en su casa. Marta tenía una hermana María, y en el momento que Jesús entró a la casa, María estaba sentada a sus pies, oía su palabra. Pero Marta estaba preocupada con sus quehaceres- limpiando la casa, poniendo la mesa, preparando el almuerzo. Su hermana no la ayudaba, y Marta estaba enojada. Ella preguntó a Jesús: “Señor, ¿no te da cuidado que mi hermana me deje servir sola?” … ¿No te da cuidado? Jesús contestó tiernamente diciendo “Marta, Marta. Tú estás preocupada con muchas cosas, pero necesitas sólo una cosa, y tu hermana María ha escogido la buena parte. La parte que no le será quitada.”

Let’s look at today’s reading. It is a reading from the Gospel of Saint Luke, chapter 10 verses 38-42. We have two well-known characters: Martha and Mary. In this story, Jesus enters a village, a town; like Ahuachapán. A woman named Martha invites Jesus into her house; she opens the door and welcomes him in. Martha has a sister, Mary, and the moment that Jesus enters their house, Mary is seated at his feet, listening to his Word. But Martha is worried about her housework- cleaning the house, setting the table, making the meal. Her sister doesn’t help her at all, and Martha becomes angry. She asks Jesus, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?” “Lord, don’t you care?” Jesus tenderly answers, saying, “Martha, Martha. You are worried about many things, but you only need one thing, and your sister Mary has chosen the better part. The part that will not be taken away from her.” 

Esta historia viene al final de capitulo diez del Evangelio de Lucas. Antes de la historia de Marta y María, tenemos la parábola del buen samaritano. Al comienzo de esta historia, un abogado le preguntó a Jesús, “¿Qué tengo que hacer para heredar la vida eterna?” Y Jesús contestó “¿Qué está escrito en la ley?” Y el abogado dijo: “Amarás al Señor tu Dios con todo tu corazón, y con toda tu alma y con todas tus fuerzas, y con toda tu mente; y a tu prójimo como a ti mismo.” Estos son los dos grandes mandamientos. Podemos ver que Marta y María, cada una representa un mandamiento.

Our story comes at the end of chapter 10 of the Gospel of Luke. Right before the story of Martha and Mary, we have the parable of the Good Samaritan. At the beginning of this story, a lawyer asks Jesus: “What do I have to do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus answers: “What is written in the law?” The lawyer says: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind. And love you neighbor as yourself.” These are the two great commandments. We can see that Martha and Mary each represent a commandment.

María, la hermana que se sentaba a los pies de Jesús, conoce bien el mandamiento “Amarás al Señor tu Dios con todo tu corazón.” Ella amaba a Jesús, y ella quería escuchar su palabra más que todo. Parece que Marta no amaba a Jesús igual que María, pero ella está siguiendo el otro gran mandamiento “Amarás a tu prójimo como a ti mismo.” Para ella, necesita preparar la comida, necesita limpiar la casa, necesita hacer su casa cómoda para Jesús. ¿Por qué Jesús dice que María ha escogido la buena parte cuando los dos mandamientos son necesarios para heredar la vida eterna?

Mary, the sister who sat at the feet of Jesus, knows well the commandment “Love the Lord your God with all your heart.” She loves Jesus and wants to listen to his word more than anything. It seems like Martha doesn’t love Jesus as much as Mary, but she is following the other great commandment to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” For her, she has to make food, she has to clean the house, she has to make her house comfortable for Jesus. Why does Jesus say that Mary has chosen the better part when both commandments are necessary to inherit eternal life?

Probablemente, Jesús no pensó que la hospitalidad era mala. En este periodo en la historia, la hospitalidad era una parte de la vida. Era normal, y sin duda Jesús esperaba recibir comida y bebida por la cultura.  Pero Marta se preocupaba mucho, demasiado, con los quehaceres. Ella no pensaba en su Dios y en las lecciones de Dios ¡aunque él estaba en su propia casa! Ella olvidó por un momento que la más importante en el mundo es Dios. Ella está demasiado afanada y turbada. Aunque Marta sabía el segundo mandamiento de amar el prójimo, ella había olvidado el primero. ¿Se han sentido como Marta? ¿Han olvidado la motivación de sus acciones? La hospitalidad no vale la pena si no es en el nombre de Jesús.

Jesus probably didn’t think that hospitality was bad. During this period of history, hospitality was a part of life. It was normal, and without a doubt Jesus expected to receive food and drink because of the culture. But Martha was very worried, too worried, about the housework. She wasn’t thinking about her God and about the lessons of God even when he was sitting in her house! She forgot for a moment that the most important thing in the world is God. She was troubled and upset. Even though she knew the second commandment to love her neighbor, she had forgotten the first. Have you ever felt like Martha? Have you ever forgotten the motivation behind your actions? Hospitality is not worth it if it is not in the name of God.

¿Cuántas veces hemos invitado a nuestros amigos a casa y después nos hemos sentido preocupados? Es un sentimiento natural. ¿Cómo puedo preparar un gran almuerzo con todas las otras cosas que hacer?  ¿Por qué mi hija se rehúsa a ayudarme? ¿Por qué mi hermano no quiere ayudarme? ¡Yo no puedo hacer todo solo! En esos momentos, nosotros somos como Marta. Necesitamos recordar que la más importante es la palabra de Dios, la palabra de Jesús, “la buena parte. La parte que no le será quitada.” La parte que no nos será quitada. Nunca. No estamos solos. Nosotros tenemos a Dios siempre, y cuando recordamos eso, podemos ser una buena mezcla de Marta y María.

How many times have we invited our friends to our house but afterward we worry? It’s a natural feeling. How will I be able to make a big dinner with all the other things I have to do? Why does my daughter refuse to help me? Why doesn’t my brother want to help me? I can’t do everything by myself! In these moments, we are like Martha. We need to remember that the most important thing is the word of God, the word of Jesus, “the better part. The part that will not be taken away from her.” The part that will not be taken away from us. Ever.  We aren’t alone. We have God with us all the time, and when we remember this, we can be a nice mix of Martha and Mary.

[Hay otro ejemplo de acciones de Marta: ¿Cuántas veces ha entrado una nueva persona en la iglesia, y hemos estado ocupados? Y hemos pensado- No puedo saludarle, yo necesito limpiar el piso. No puedo escuchar su historia, necesito preparar el altar. ¡Yo tengo muchas cosas que hacer antes del culto! ¿Qué hacemos en esta situación? ¿Cómo podemos servir en la iglesia, el edificio, y a la iglesia, las personas?]

[Here is another example of acting like Marta: How many times has a new person come into the church, and we’re busy? We think to ourselves: I can’t say hello to him, I need to clean the floor. *Cultural note: the floors here are all tile and are given a thorough cleaning before each service* I can’t listen to her story, I have to prepare the altar. I have lots of things to do before the service starts! What are we doing in this situation? How can we serve both the Church as a building and the Church as the people?]

En Génesis capitulo dieciocho, versículos uno al diez, encontramos otro ejemplo de la hospitalidad. Aquí tenemos a Abraham cuando encontró tres hombres en la calle. El versículo uno dice: “El Señor se le apareció a Abraham.” Inmediatamente, Abraham vio a Dios en esos hombres. Él les trajo comida para comer y agua para tomar. Él fue rápidamente a su esposa, Sara, para pedirle que cocinara el pan. Él corrió hacia las vacas, y buscó la mejor para prepararla.

In Genesis 18:1-10 we find another example of hospitality. Here we find Abraham as he meets three men on the street. Verse 1 says: “The Lord appeared to Abraham.” Immediately, Abraham sees God in these men. He brings them food to eat and water to drink. He quickly goes to his wife, Sarah, and asks her to make bread. He runs to the cows and chooses the best one to prepare for his guests.

Abraham vio en sus prójimos el amor de Dios. Él quiso servir a sus prójimos porque vio ese amor de Dios. En todos nuestros prójimos podemos ver a Dios, porque Dios está adentro de cada persona. Abraham vio a Dios en esos tres hombres, y los trató con bondad y hospitalidad. Para amar a nuestros prójimos como a nosotros mismos, tenemos que ver a Dios en los ojos de cada prójimo.

Abraham sees the love of God in his neighbor. He wants to serve his neighbor because he sees this love of God. We can see God in all of our neighbors because God is inside each and every one of us. Abraham saw God in these three men and he treated them with kindness and hospitality. In order to love our neighbors as ourselves, we have to be able to see God in the eyes of every person.

[La iglesia no es solamente el edifico; la iglesia son los humanos, las personas, los hermanos y hermanas que vienen cada semana, cada día, cada noche. Todos nosotros somos una parte del cuerpo de Cristo, y necesitamos tratar a las personas con bondad y hospitalidad. No puedo solamente cantar las alabanzas, necesito enseñar en la escuela bíblica también. No puedo venir a orar solamente los domingos, necesito ir a las casas de los enfermos y orar con y por ellos. El servicio a la iglesia no es solamente en este lugar. Tenemos que abrir las puertas de la iglesia y acoger a la gente como Marta; tenemos que escuchar la palabra de Dios como María; y además tenemos que ver a Dios en los ojos de cada persona en la calle, como Abraham. Cuando tratamos a nuestros prójimos con bondad y hospitalidad, estamos sirviendo a la iglesia.]

[The church is not only a building; the church is made of humans, people, brothers and sisters who come every week, every day, every night. All of us are a part of the Body of Christ, and we need to treat people with kindness and hospitality. I can’t just lead worship, I have to teach the children in Sunday school too! I can’t just come and pray in church on Sundays, I have to go to the houses of the sick and pray with them. Service to the church is not just in this place. We have to open the doors of the church and welcome people in, like Martha; we have to listen to the word of God, like Mary; and furthermore we have to be able to see God in the eyes of every person we meet on the street, like Abraham. When we treat our neighbors with kindness and hospitality, we are serving the church.]

Estas historias de Abraham y Marta nos muestran que la hospitalidad es importante. Las cosas que hacemos son importantes. La manera en la cual tratamos a nuestros prójimos es importante. [Jesús tiene cuidado de nosotros y nuestras acciones adentro y afuera de la iglesia.] Somos Cristianos, y necesitamos amar con todos nuestros corazones a Dios y a las personas, porque Jesús nos ama. El salmo quince pregunta “¿Quien, Señor, puede habitar en tu santuario? ¿Quién puede vivir en tu santo monte?” Y después, hay repuestas: “quien practica la justicia, de corazón dice la verdad,  quien no le hace mal a su prójimo.” Esas son las buenas acciones que tenemos que hacer. Abraham, Marta, y María pueden ser los ejemplos para nosotros en la manera en la cual tratan a los prójimos, [y de la manera en la cual podemos servir a la iglesia.] Y, por supuesto, el mejor ejemplo de la hospitalidad y el servicio es Jesús.

These stories of Abraham and Martha show us that hospitality is important. The things we do are important. The way we treat our neighbor is important. [Jesus cares about us and our actions inside and outside of the church.] We are Christians, and we need to love God and our neighbors with our whole heart, because Jesus loved us enough to die for us. Psalm 15 asks “Lord, who can dwell in your sanctuary? Who can live on your holy mountain?” And afterward we have the responses: “the one who does what is righteous, whose heart tells the truth, who does no wrong to a neighbor.” These are the right actions that we have to do. Abraham, Martha, and Mary can be examples for us because of the ways they treat their neighbors [and the way in which we can serve the church]. And, of course, the best example of service and hospitality is Jesus.

Esas ideas de buenas acciones me recuerdan a la oración de San Francisco de Asís. En esta oración, San Francisco pide a Dios por las acciones correctas en el nombre de Jesús. 

These ideas about right actions remind me of the prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi. In this prayer, Saint Francis petitions to God so that he can act well in the name of Jesus.

Oremos.   

Let us pray.

Oh, Maestro, que yo no busque tanto ser consolado como consolar, ser comprendido como comprender, ser amado como amar. Porque dando se recibe, perdonando se es perdonado, y muriendo se resucita a la vida eterna. 

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen y Amen.