"Have you got anything to eat?": Living Jesus in Venezuela

  • Friendships
    Friendships
  • Learning together
    Learning together
  • Learning together
    Learning together
  • Sharing bread and life
    Sharing bread and life
  • Sharing life
    Sharing life
  • A family of fishermen
    A family of fishermen
  • The sisters who have been in Venezuela
    The sisters who have been in Venezuela
  • The sea of El Peñón
    The sea of El Peñón
  • Organizing ourselves as a community
    Organizing ourselves as a community

"Have you got anything to eat?" (Jn. 21, 5): Fernanda Vacas, who arrived in Venezuela in 1993 and is celebrating 30 years of living there, describes her experience of Jesus in Venezuela, and why this has made her want to stay.

Wow, impressive. Jesus is in history, in reality, TODAY, in everyday life.  He is walking the streets and living. 

He is not the Jesus who calls me to account before communion.  He is not the one who always watches over me, even my "thoughts and omissions".   Nor is He the one who dies for my sins or bears my guilt.  No, that is not my Jesus.

He is a natural and vital Jesus.  He is by my side, with different names and accents from many places: HE IS. And He is part of this story, of this reality, of this life.  He counts on me.  He counts on you.  He asks questions, makes suggestions, asks for help, laughs and cries. 

I first met Him between "the mariguncio and Harry Belafonte" in my mother's kitchen.  That is to say, between music and pouting, between humor and love for the everyday. I also found it in the community of Mata de Alcántara: a small village in Extremadura, two sisters of the Sacred Heart, with so much love to give.  And between Moratalaz and Aluche, with Feli and a community of sisters in "greater love".  

At what point did I forget Him? When did I entrap His naturalness within the walls of institutions? How did I convince myself that learning to love with Him was to comply with religion? Why did I distance myself, become structured, become someone that conforms?

... and that is when Jesus asks me, "Have you got anything to eat?"

Read the entire reflection below

Fernanda Vacas RSCJ

 

Province: