Holy Week

I've been thinking a lot about the differences between religions, especially here in Guatemala.  There is an extreme divide between Catholics and Evangelical Christians here.  One will not associate with the other.  I've even heard of some who will not buy food from a stand that they know is run by the other.  Everything that is done by the church is to show the separation between the two.

Let me give you a bit of a background on the differences between Catholics and Evangelicals in Guatemala. 

This past week was is known as Semana Santa (or Holy Week).  This is not uncommon to the North American church.  During this week, Catholics hold a series of celebrations through processions.  These processions consist of floats, bands, and people dressed in long purple robes.  The floats are not pulled by semi-trucks, as seen in the US or Canada, but are held up on the shoulders of men.  These floats are extremely heavy and leave bruises on the men that carry them.  These procession literally shut down the town of Antigua as they weave through the cobblestone streets.

The Catholics here believe that carrying the floats is a huge honor and the bigger the bruises that are left on their shoulders, the more they are forgiven for their sins.  This is the time of year where people can atone for the sins that they they have committed.  There is a sense of duty for "bearing their own cross."  Not only that, but these men pay A LOT of money to have the opportunity to carry these floats. 

Now, I'm all for prophetic acts and I understand the reference to "bearing the our own cross" that is talked about in the book of Luke but this is a bit different.  The men that are in these processions are following the theory that we need good works to get into Heaven.  They believe that their forgiveness lies in the ability to pay money and bruise their shoulders on an extremely heavy float.
 
Not only are these processions through the week of Semana Santa but also throughout the period of lent. 

I was once caught in one of these processions while trying to get to church one Sunday morning and, I have to admit, my reaction to it was harsh.  As I pushed my way through the crowd of people up a busy street, the band began to play.  The music had a heaviness to it like I've never heard in my life.

I looked to my right as I passed a float holding a bloodied up Jesus holding a cross. 

I look to my left and I see a women dressed from head to toe in black sobbing on the shoulder of her husband as the float passed. 

I looked ahead of me and see men dressed as a roman guards surrounding the float. 

I have to admit, as I was fighting my way to get to church, I began to get angry these people.  I'm not Catholic!  All I wanted to do was get to church before the worship was over.  I wanted to scream, "Hey!!!!  God's not Dead!!!!  Stop acting like it!!!  I don't know about you but I serve a God that is alive!!!!"  The anger of being caught in such a depressing state over a God that is, in fact, alive burned in me for a long time afterwards.   

This past week, during the thick of these processions, I began thinking about the people that believe this tradition was the only way to be forgiven.  I began thinking about their lives and how sad it was that they serve a God that is still hanging on a cross.  I want to them to see that God is off the cross.  I want them to know that the cross was the beginning, not the end.  I want them to feel what real grace feels like, not forgiveness that they have to pay for.

There is a huge difference between Catholics and Christians down here. 

The God that I serve is one full of power and love and truth!  I serve a God that is alive!  Amen!