Prop 8A + A Cup of Cold Water + RD+ and MCL+ 7.2.23

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"A Cup of Cold Water."

Pastors RD+ and MCL+ in collaboration for 2 July, 2023

All Saints/ Todos los Santos, Oxnard

Génesis/Genesis 22:1–14; Salmo/Ps. 13; Romanos/ Romans 6:12–23; San Mateo/Matthew 10:40–42

 

Welcome! Bienvenidos. This sermon includes input from a member of All Saints Ventura, the church whose members we welcome today. Este sermón incluye historias de un miembro de la iglesia All Saints Ventura, los miembros de la cual demos el bienvenido hoy.

 So, in light of 4th of July, and as we celebrate Mabel’s good news of citizenship this week, my friend asks the question:  What is the glue that holds America together? En la luz del 4 de julio, y pensando en las noticias grandes de Mabel esta semana, pienso en la pregunta de mi amigo: ¿qué es lo que mantiene unidos a los EEUU? (I tell you I had tears in my eyes when the answer came to me, he said. Era un momento emocional para el pensar en esto.)

America is held together by millions of " little acts of kindness" every day.  Basic civility. Millones de acciones de amabilidad son lo que nos mantienen unidos estos estados unidos, cada día.

Let me illustrate:  Last year a friend had a new roof installed. (After 30 years). Para ilustrar, el año pasado mi amigo contrató la instalación de un nuevo techo. if you know about roof replacement, the first step is "tear off." Si conocen de la reparación de un techo, la primera cosa para hacer es sacar el techo.  Mi amigo dijo esto. My friend said: In our case we had two roofs, two sets of old shingles. En nuestro caso tuvimos dos niveles de techo, y fue un día bien caliente.   It was a hot day and this was hard work.  Era un trabajo duro. Uno de los hombres tomo una pausa en su jardín de atrás.  One of the men took a break in our back yard. He didn’t speak Spanish, but an indigenous dialect.  No entendió al español, sino un dialecto indígena. He was hot and sweaty.  My friend went in fridge and brought out a half liter of Crystal Geyser. Estaba caliente y sudoso- y mi amigo fue al refri para sacar medio litro de agua – lo recibió, asintiendo con su cabeza. He took it with not a word, but a nod.  A little act of human kindness.  It didn't cost much. Un pequeño gesto de bondad humano- no le costó casi nada.

Otro cuento de mi amigo/ another story from my friend: Twice a week I would stop at our local 7-Eleven to by my lottery tickets.  Foolish, he knows. Dos veces a la semana va al 7-11 para comprar un billete para la lotería. Él dice que es un poco necio, pero le gusta.  He said: sometimes I would run into a homeless guy who sat on the cement outside.  He did not ignore him, but engaged him. Y cuando vio este hombre sin hogar, lo escuchó a su historia, y le dio un par de dólares para una hamburguesa y un cigarrillo. He listened to his story.  And he would give him a few bucks.  The man would tell him that this could get him a burger and a couple of cigarettes.  A cup of cold water. Un vaso de agua fresca.

The 7-Eleven would sell individual cigarettes.  They didn't have too. It was probably illegal.  They did it anyway.  El 7-11 vendió cigarrillos individuales- no lo necesitaban hacerlo y tal vez no era completamente legal – pero lo hicieron – un vaso de agua fresca. A cup of cold water.

So, these are examples of the "little ones" in our society, in our world.  Jesus says today in Matthew "if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones...." Jesús dice en Mateo: “Y cualquiera que le da siquiera un vaso de agua fresca a uno de estos pequeños por ser seguidor mío.”

Who are the "little ones?" ¿Y quiénes son los “pequeños?” No son niños. La palabra griega aquí es “ptochoi,” que en hebreo es “anawim.”   These are not children, the Greek word here is "ptochoi", which in Hebrew is the "anawim."  

These are the "poor in spirit." Ellos son los “pobres en Espíritu.” These are the ones that are just holding on, trusting only in the little faith they have in God.  These are "the least of these" (Matt. 25) Ellos son los últimos.

Me hacen pensar en algo que yo vivi esta semana y en un senor que ayudamos con el fondo de discreción de reparar a su auto. This also makes me think of the man I helped on Friday to repair his car- he is disabled and living in his car and waiting on disability to come through. Así que lo ayudamos porque no puede trabajar y esta viviendo en su auto. Costó muy poco de mi tiempo escuchar su historia. It took only a little time to hear his story and help him out, getting a tour of Oxnard mechanics- but I met an honest mechanic- conocí a un mecánico honesto- y pude ayudar al señor. And I could help this man who has survived a difficult past and is hanging on trying to do something better through faith in God.

People like him are the meek and mild. Estas personas son los pobres y afligidos. These are the ones who try to be faithful to God in every difficulty.  Siguen adelante a pesar de las dificultades- como muchos de ustedes también. I suspect you have stories of your own. Take a moment to think of those to whom you have given a cup of cold water. ¿Tienen ustedes historias de personas a quienes han ayudado? Piensan en ellos.

So "who are the anawim, 'the little ones' in our lives?" ¿Quiénes son los pequeños en nuestras vidas?  The baby sitters. Las enfermeras que vienen a visitar y cuidar a nuestros ancianos y enfermos.  The LGBT kid who feels that the world is against them. El joven LGBT que siente que el mundo está en contra de elle. Our friends and our neighbors. Maybe Margaret who came to join at the Welcome Table on Thursday.

Lastly:  "What are the cups of cold water we can give."  ¿Entonces cuáles son los vasos de agua fresca que podemos dar? Jesus seems to feel these are important. Jesús dice que esto es importante, que damos de lo que tenemos. If we come through, we will receive our reward. Si es con Pan de Vida u otra manera, si compartimos, recibimos nuestro premio. Whether it be through the food pantry, Bread of Life or another way, our sharing makes a difference.

Lo importante es prestar atención a los que nos rodean. It’s about paying attention to those around us.  Remembering birthday cards.  Sending Thank You cards. Diciendo gracias y abriendo puertas por los demás.  Opening doors for people.  Cuidar a los demás.

Remember that these are the acts of kindness that hold our society together.  By doing these publicly we encourage others to do the same. It becomes a ministry for us. Estas acciones de bondad mantienen unidad en nuestra sociedad, y se convierten en un ministerio para nosotros.

When we do these acts of kindness, remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 25: “I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink". Recordemos las palabras de Jesús en Mateo capítulo 25: “tuve sed, y me dieron de beber.”  When we are kind to others, we look in their face and we see the face of Jesus. Cuando estamos bondadosos con los demás, vemos en ellos la cara de Jesús.As we celebrate America's freedom, remember that we are free to be kind to one another. This is the America that we love." Mientras celebramos la Libertad de los Estados Unidos, que recordemos que estamos libres de estar bondadosos el uno con el otro. ¡Estos son los Estados Unidos que amamos!

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