Traditions
From September 15 to October 15, we celebrate Hispanic culture and honor the contributions of our Latin American siblings. I am always enthralled by the vibrant art, traditional foods, and soulful spirit. Our southern neighbors and those who call the United States home bring wonderful life to our communities. I think we can learn a lot from their commitment to faith and family. We can also learn how to throw a lively festival.
I remember as a kid, The Calle Ocho Festival in Miami happened to coincide with our family vacation, it was epic! The colorful sights, energetic sounds, and delicious smells still linger in my memory today. As a youngster, it may have been my first real exposure to cultural diversity.
As a church, we are called to honor the gifts and traditions of every people because God’s creation is anything but dull. By supporting bicultural community, we create a church that reflects the diversity of God’s most treasured gift… us, all of us. Today, I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on the beauty of unity within diversity. Are there stories of faith and beauty that you have encountered in the Hispanic tradition that you find meaningful?
Recently, as we were distributing warm meals to the unhoused folks in Fort Myers, I came across an elderly woman near the steps of the Public Library. She spoke little English, looked disheveled, and was severely hunched over. I asked her, “would you like a meal?” She abruptly replied, “Do you have a rosary?” I informed her that I am not Catholic, but that I will keep one in my vehicle incase I saw her again. She smiled and soon after, she then expressed gratitude for lunch. It left a lasting impression on me that she prioritized prayer over her immediate physical needs. I have not seen her since.
What was God trying to teach me in this moment? Perhaps she represented the faithful spirit present in all people. I will be honest; I’ve never fully understood the rosary. I’ve always wondered, “why do we need something tangible to remind us to pray?” It wasn’t until I saw her deep desire to have a rosary in her possession that I realized that my understanding is not that important. It matters to her, so therefore, it matters.
Sometimes prayerful, cultural, and community traditions do not need our full understanding to have value. In that sacred moment with the woman on the street, my opinion of the rosary was irrelevant. Her spiritual connection to God while using the rosary is what truly matters. Sometimes, I think we care too much about our own opinion. And frankly, we have too many of them.
It’s worth asking, are we capable of simply letting something be good, beautiful, and diverse? Maybe one day we can see with God’s eyes, where things are valuable simply because they exist. The mission is to feed people, not understand the rosary. I believe that God creates people with different traditions on purpose. All people, all cultures, are beautifully and wonderfully made.
With every splash of color,
Pastor Lucas
Photo by James Lee