This is the time of the year for a concert of cultures and creeds. Within Life Directions we seek to encourage all people of good will to grow in your own "roots" and to come to appreciate the "roots" of others.
- "Roots" are the tradition that sustain the life of customs and traditions.
- Rootless people will hear and not understand, see and not perceive.
- Culture tell the meaning of what we hear.
- Creed give the insights of what we see.
To take one culture and creed - the Mexican community embraces Our Lady of Guadalupe. Within the music we hear affectionate love for Our Lady. "Dance" and "Decorations" enliven the people. Within what we see and hear is the deep faith that God did not abandoned the indigenous people. He challenged the leaders to respect all peoples, especially the "little ones". By building a Church the people would have a home to give them what they would not receive from a job or money. What a gift to know our worth is not based on what we have but one we are. God loves us just the way we are. Our Lady's message - love God the way God loves and we will know how to build a just community with peacemaking as its foundation.
The Roses and the Tilma are but two of the symbols to express the meaning and richness of the celebration. Justice for the poor and oppressed, especially within education and employment, gives what the celebration is encouraging. Let's pray this becomes a reality for more and more of all God's people.
Other cultures - African American, Asian American, European American, other Hispanic Americans and Native American - they all have ways to celebrate. Please share your reflections and join the concert.
Other creeds deepen the cultures. Share the gift of your faith and enrich the concert.
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