"The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few." —Matthew
9:37
The Puerto Rican Jesus by Don Jíbaro Barbablanca
Is Jesus Christ really part of the Puerto Rican
Culture or is He just an Icon at Easter and Christmas?
I have always said that a Boricua born in the North Pole
is NOT an Esquimo... he's still a Boricua. The place of birth only makes you a citizen
of that place, nothing more and nothing less. I'm proud of Jesus... whether He had
been born
in Puerto Rico or the North Pole. ...but God wanted Him in Israel.
Me? I was born in 60 years ago in San Juan but was
raised in Bayamón, when Bayamón was little, not the Metropolis that it is today.
No, Clark Kent doesn't live there.
Let me get a word edgewise, if I may... In the Puerto Rican
tradition, IF YOU VISIT any town, ANY... in Puerto Rico, most likely you'll
see a church in the town's main plaza or around it. Inside that church,
Jesus will be the focus of the congregation's faith. Not Muhammad, not
Joseph Smith (Mormons), not Charles Taze Russell (JWs), not Buddha, not
Adventists, not Ying Yan... etc., ad libitum. Only ONE: Jesus. Mary was
Jesus' mom, but that's another story... and I mean another story.
In a nutshell, Puerto Rican Christianity is comes from the acceptance of the
"Gospel" of Jesus, (Evangelion) The word is a calque
(word-for-word translation) of the Greek word εὐαγγέλιον,)
"Good News" ...by Faith through Grace. Jesus
died for you on the cross and arose from the dead and He's coming back...
That's it; whether you believe it or not!!
It has been like that for hundreds of years
since the Spanish Friars were sent to convert the inhabitants of the the
"New World". I didn't make it so, you didn't either, but that's just the way
it was; and nothing is going to change that... not even statehood or
independence, should it either ever come.
The Church in Plaza de Ponce --- IF YOU VISIT any town in Puerto Rico, most likely you'll see a church in the
town's main plaza. Inside that church, for the most part, Jesus will be the
focus of the congregation's faith.
As "enlightened" Boricuas we'd like to think
that we observe the core traditions of our culture. We "talk the talk" and
more often than not, we "walk the walk." It's consequently and
imperative that we get to know that part of our culture that our ancestors
staked the essence of their existence on... their faith in The Lord Jesus!
Yes, Jesus Christ is Lord to at least 80% of all Puerto Ricans in the Island and possibly
throughout the world. More than 3 million in Puerto Rico profess to be Christian
in one way or another. As Major Patron Saint of The Island, He's even respected
by those who don't even know Him. There's no doubt! Puerto Ricans distinguish
The Lord Jesus from other "deities". Your grandma knew that!
Can anyone, even you... improve your life through a personal spiritual
relationship with The Lord Jesus Christ the way your "abuelita" had? Don't get
squeamish! The word "GOSPEL" just means "Good News." This News is the Way to a
Peaceful Life that Lacks Nothing... Believe it! Some times we fail trying to
take care of our own lives and thus seek outside help. We can, however, gain
Spiritual Insight and learn to live better and think more effectively. God
is a Spirit, you find Him with your Spitit. That's the Spirit of joy and peace in your life.
So, why do you think that most people do not have this
peace and abundant life that God planned for us to have? Simply it is
separation from God, wrong use of the Fiestas Patronales and neglect of
God.
We choose to behead chickens, wave their bloody heads in the air and
think the "the mojo charm" will save us. Nevertheless, God gave us
the will and freedom of
choice, but we still chose to disobey God and go our own heathen and
willful way. Hundreds of Boricuas still make this choice today. This
results in separation from the dear God your "abuelita" knows.
Admit it. your own WICKEDNESS has
separated you from God; so much that he won't hear you.
The Cross, however, is the one symbol in all those Churches in all the
plazas in Puerto Rico... Jesus Christ really died on the Cross and
rose from the grave. That might be a mystery to you but the Scriptures
are true...
Your responsibility as a good Boricua is to receive
Christ in a humble way. The World is up to accuse you and shame you and
if you skip a payment on your mortgage, they even take your house. The
Lord wants to guide you into success, maybe not rich, but well enough.
You must trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and receive Him by
personal invitation. It has worked
for me and it can certainly work for you.
The Spirit of the Lord is like
a Gentleman... He will not come unless YOU invite him in your soul.
He "stands at the door and knock, if anyone opens the door, He will come
in..." (Rev 3:20a) Go on, make grandma happy. Let Jesus Christ in right now!
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness.
I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn my life around.
Please, come into my heart and help me fix my life. I want to trust and
follow You as Lord and Savior. Amen.
Believe me, all who call on the name of the Lord will be
saved. For it is by grace you get saved, through faith - and this not
from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one
can brag later.
Incidentally... He's part of our culture!
Dont
forget to feed your SOUL... READ the BIBLE and pray daily! Attend a
Christian church in your town, even the one in the center of the Plaza... IF YOU
WISH, send me a note telling me that you have done this... I'll be waiting to
hear from you!
Dont
forget to feed your SOUL... READ the BIBLE and pray daily! Attend a
Christian church in your town, even the one in the center of the Plaza... IF YOU
WISH, send me a note telling me that you have done this... I'll be waiting to
hear from you! 
17
MEGS!
