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An idol made of flesh

Michael Jackson's death made us think about how humankind is capable of feeling orphaned when one idol fights life's naked frailty. My adolescence's soundtrack was filled by this man's geniality.  Like me, other generations were enchanted with his creativity and glamour.  All of us imagined ourselves mimicking his unusual dance steps.  Joy and magic were part of his performance.  The whole world bowed to his talent, and his fans could be found anywhere.  But, like other idols, Michael also could not resist the weight of his image and fame.  This fragile man could not stand the pressure upon him and suffered awful consequences in his private life, which was exposed by the same media that at times sanctified him and at times took him to hell.  Once, I heard a very creative sentence on TV, which expresses very well who Michael Jackson was:  "a child who was obliged to work as a man and a man who also tried to be a child!"
Michael, follow your way in peace to the beautiful garden where all God's children certainly play and where life is an authentic childhood.  Thank you for your gifts and for making us happy with your music.  You did your best.  Your beautiful songs are going to be engraved in stone, but your failures will be carried away by mercy's winds.

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IEAB mourns the death of Jaci Maraschin

Jaci Corréia Maraschin (1929-2009): priest, poet, and theologian.
The Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil (IEAB) is greatly saddened to announce the passing of one of its most illustrious members. Ardent defender of liberty, inclusiveness, the ordination of women, and creativity in hymns and liturgy, Rev. Maraschin was born in Bagé, State of Rio Grande do Sul, where from an early age he began to put his talents to work for the church.
He was a youth leader at his home parish, Matriz do Crucificado, and a leader of the monthly publication Flámula ("Flame") for young people in the
church. He entered seminary in Porto Alegre in 1951 and was made a deacon in 1953 at Igreja da Ascensão in Porto Alegre. The year thereafter he was
ordained a priest and went to study at General Theological Seminary in New York. As soon as he returned to Brazil, in 1956, he was put in charge of
coordinating Christian education and began to teach at the Theological Seminary of Brazil, ambitiously modernizing religious education and seeking
to incorporate the diversity and richness of Brazilian culture. His next experience abroad was in 1964, when he traveled to Strasburg, France to do his doctoral studies in Religious Science. With his thesis on Frederick
Denison Maurice, he graduated Magna Cum Lauda, the first Brazilian Episcopalian/Anglican to earn such distinction in Europe. Back in Brazil, he continued to teach at the Seminary and began to represent the Brazilian Church in denominational and ecumenical forums in Brazil and in other countries. Rev. Maraschin was one of the founders of the Association of
Evangelical Theological Seminaries (ASTE) and served as its executive secretary for many years.

In 1976, he was elected member of the Commission
on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches and in 1981 was chosen by the Archbishop of Canterbury to represent Brazil at the Anglican
Consultative Council in 1990, where he helped to draft guidelines for the Provinces of the Communion. The Archbishop of Canterbury chose Rev. Maraschin to serve on a few international commissions, including the
Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC), within which he helped construct the famous document Gift of Authority, signed by both
churches. Rev. Maraschin's contribution to liturgical music, as author, composer, and translator, is a valuable legacy not only for the IEAB but also many other churches in Brazil and beyond. His latest project was to coordinate a revision of the IEAB's hymnal.
It would be difficult to think of a priest, theology student, or lay leader in the IEAB who was not profoundly influenced by Rev. Maraschin, whose motto
was "life goes only as far as liberty does". He is survived by his spouse, Ana Dulce and daughters Ana Isabela and Rosa Maria and four grandchildren.

R.I. P. dear friend!

drops of rain no Flickr – Compartilhamento de fotos!

via flickr.com

A green leaf and drops of rain I want to represent the hope of the Iranian people against violence and tyranny of state. Green for hope and drops of water representing the life that insists on being successful.
The language of force can intimidate but never beat the power of people!

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flower to those in pain!

via s336.photobucket.com

My deepest thoughts to those who are in pain related to the AF 447 tragedy.

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Pentecost: from boxes to outside!

Among the many approaches we can take to understand the meaning of Pentecost, one of them caught my attention. It is the passage from ignorance to freedom of intuition. The passage from fear to courage. Think and live in Spirit is to acquire the capacity to see beyond the simple reality. In other words is to learn to read with the divine intelligence. Take the apostolic community model: feeling unsafe despite so many evidences of divine power manifested through the Resurrection. But still lacked the ability to understand with more certainty the God's message to the world.
The result after the Pentecost manifestation was the courageous announcement of the God's love to the world. The ability of Peter to say what might be called as the first synthesis of the historical process of God's revelation is surprisingly to us all. An illiterate fisherman was able to speak with authority, eloquence and his message fully understood by so diverse audience. Only the Holy Spirit could do that. The numinous picture of God translated trough the witness from a simple person. Pure freedom to believe and speak what is believed.
This is the biggest challenge for us today. Leave the box of fear and insecurity for a powerful announcement of the message of God to the world. We live captives in theological, cultural and ideological boxes as hostages of fear. We need open our hearts and minds and let the Holy Spirit comforts us and release the passion and insight for the courage to speak and live according to the values the Gospel tells us.
The Spirit pushes us out of the box. Leads us to the freshness and to the active intuition. Instead of fear the Holy Spirit tells us that we should not worry about what to talk or to do.
Let us pray as a NZPB collect lead us:
Almighty God,
you kindled this day the light of your Spirit
in the hearts of your faithful people;
may we by the same Spirit
have a right judgment in all things,
and evermore rejoice in your love and power;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour,
who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever.
Amen.

ACC 14: an invitation to continue walk

Many of the delegates present at the ACC's meeting expressed their feeling of hope at the end of the journey in which was spent ten days. Such encounters often creates strong links between people. Cultural and theological diversity always challenges us to understand and value the importance of what things are common between us. While working hard for long time is inevitable feel communion with other people for the simple fact that others are seeking to live their faith in a broader perspective . Even if we are on opposite sides on certain issues, it is possible to establish a bond of affection which is the main mark of a true communion.
An overview of the entire event is possible to say that he successful followed the same spirit of the recent worldwide meeting of the instruments of unity. There are no winners or losers. But there is an effort to seek consensus. The fact that the Covenant has been accepted and submitted for further review on section 4 means a challenge for those seeking to maintain the Communion together. In some moments, such as the resolution on the Middle East, the consensus is result of balance of arguments and a good exercise of dialogue with passion and reason. Sometimes is not sufficient have the right idea. It demands also to be suitable for some specific situation.
A word from the Archbishop could well summarize the importance of this ACC meeting. He himself took some positions that were not supported by the majority of the House. The same was also with those who wanted a more Orthodox Communion. Or with others who wanted to leave Kingston with the feeling of victory.
Or perhaps, others wanted a definitive answer on sexuality and marriage. The great danger of authoritarianism is to want simple answers to complex questions. Therefore, the challenge is to continue. Talk, listen, disagree, pray and thank the difference of others. Not to leave but stay at the table.
Advances in the fields of development and health issues, justice and reconciliation processes were achieved with a high degree of consensus. Our Communion is discovering that we need to show commitment with the world. Any orthodoxy or definite answers could guarantee that we will welcomed by our Almighty God. Being Church is not thinking about herself.
Questions remain. And they have to be faced on the road. All of us are invited to walk and to see around and live for our neighbor.
Our gratitude to Prof. Dr. Joanildo Burity for his collaborative and dedicated work representing our Province.

Do not look the clock!

In these days the attention from around the Anglican Communion are devoted to the
deliberations of the ACC 14. Among many decisions and hard agenda, the ACC will deliberate about the future of the Anglican Covenant.
Reading and listening comments on the process of discussion in Kingston on discussions around the table on the proposed last draft of the Covenant I saw with some concern statements made by some parties.
Deny the process of conversation around the Pact seems now a minority position within the Communion. But, in the other side, try to impose it with statements as "now or never" is not acceptable and wise way.
Even the Church of Brazil has had an attitude of dialogue, evolving from a position of rejection to a compromise. Earlier versions of the Pact seemed to us very contrary to Anglican tradition. The attempt to create a curia or a structure that regulates the thought and life of the autonomous Provinces was seen as unacceptable.
The latest version has a more light shape, exploring more deeply the sense of communion and basic standards of our tradition. It is result of the hearing process held at the Lambeth Conference and the Primates Meeting. Still, there remain problems and contradictions in the Section 4 of the new version. This section needs to be more largely discussed within Provinces.
Personally, I have been a critic of the proposed Covenant. I do not think necessary. But I'm open to admit - if it helps to keep the communion alive - to seek a minimum consensus. If some common agreement is possible we will advance to overcome irreparable break.
The main challenge of the Anglican Communion today is the restoration of trust between people. This trust goes shaken by the simple fact that some who are fighting for the Covenant they themselves continue to cross borders and cause divisions
They ask for moratorium but they are violating moratorium. There isn't sincerity in these people because they are always acting behind scenes. They want the pact and are the first to violate it.
Many people want to impose the Covenant are concerned with time. This symptom is alarming. Time is something that is not measured when is related to the mission of God. The timing of God is not the same time we see the clock.
Time is urgent when we have emergence of famine, of war, calamity.
Anxiety is a symptom of insecurity. A Communion that wants to be be built on feelings of affection may not be looking at the clock. Communion is not required by formularies. Communion is lived in time that is Kairós (God's timing).