A reflection by the Rev. Dr. Maritza A. de Gonzalez.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:3 (NRSV)
And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling.Reflection:
This whole political season has been a tumultuous time for our country. Nothing new, every political season brings its own… Gloria Gaynar sings about survival… "First I was afraid, I was petrified…" But then I realized that WE WILL SURVIVE! God is on our side.Is this the resolution of each one of us, or is it only me? I will survive no matter what the political situation might bring. Our God says that our strength comes from believing that God will protect us even against ourselves. In other words, we need to give to Cesar what belongs to Cesar and remember that all fears are cast away by the power of the Spirit of God. My safety and my security belongs to the one in whose Palm I am under. Can I survive?
One can be in weakness, fearful and trembling while standing strong in God. By believing that we have each other for support. Nobody can take away my citizenship, because I am a citizen of God's Kingdom. Here on earth we have to find ways to enact justice, to seek justice and to proclaim justice. And survival for one at the exclusion of another is detrimental to all our health. God's justice is for each of us and the many issues we stand for: LGBTQ+, immigrants, migrants, women's reproductive health, environmental issues and yes: black lives; intersectionality in all its definition — whatever affects God's People.
Prayer:
[God's] grace is sufficient for [us], for power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong…" Because, at the end…we will survive! (Sobreviviremos!) Amen and Amen.2 Corinthians 12:9-11 (NASB)
The Rev. Dr. MARITZA A. DE GONZALEZ is Co-Pastor of Manantial de Gracia “Spring of Grace” in West Hartford. She also serves on Leadership Team for UCC’s Proyecto Encuentros de Gracia y Bienvenida (www\.ucc.org/bienvenida).
Maritza Angulo de Gonzalez
The Rev. Dr. Maritza Angulo de Gonzalez is pastor of Manantial de Gracia "Spring of Grace", UCC in New Britain, Connecticut
February 01, 2017