June 23, 2019 - Second Sunday After Pentecost - Stories from New Mexico Part 2

The stories from New Mexico properly began with Debi talking about two things that she had learned and impressed her from the trip. She was followed by nine other presenters.

For her part Debi loved that the Pueblo people traced their lineage through Matrilineality, tracking family lineage through the mother. She also learned that the Pueblo people consider the circle sacred as opposed to lines that divide and encourage either / or thinking.

This was echoed by what many of the other presenters felt when they saw the U.S Mexican border. The border appeared to them as an arbitrary boundary that adversely affected many people's lives. Natalie, in particular, was touched by the story of a couple and how they navigated being in love with each other and the border. Many of presenters, like Natalie, were impressed by John, who accepted the inaccurate label Indian with calm and serenity that many doubted they would have under similar circumstances.

Isabella was struck by how these Native Americans stuck with prayer in dealing with the myriad problems they were encountering and for Victoria was moved by how the making of tamales became an act of persistence as women sold them to help others through the injustice and discrimination.

Albuquerque is Paul's home town and he was inspired by their visit to the Center for Action and Contemplation that Richard Rohr works through.

Nia appreciated the opportunity the congregation provided to be able to take in some stories that told about the amazing compassion people demonstrated in New Mexico.

Sonnet talked about how the life stories she heard connected her to her own family's experiences in coming to America. Evelyn also testified the stories she heard echoed her story as well. She talked about the hierarchy of embassies, consulates, ambassadors and visas that were available and worked for some but were not working for these people in this situation. She emphasized that those on the trip wanted to move beyond listening and brainstormed how they could take action. She came up again as the sermon time was ending to relate a story about a nun who had apologized that her generation had not taken action. She hoped her generation would not be making the same apology to their children.

As for the fear of the Gerasene Demoniac by the city's inhabitants this relates back to how people feel about those they can easily label the other. If you are not "one of us" (defined in the Gospel as those who live in Gerasene) feeling compassion, making an effort to socialize with an individual is potentially dangerous. When the Demoniac is healed he is now like everyone else while still be recognized by his past. The work of the community is what can make people fear in the end because they must expand their vision of who is deserving of respect and inclusion.