Walk The Road
SUNDAY, November 15
Matthew 5:14-16
“As you walk the road with me, you are a light shining in this dark world. A village built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one hides a torch under a basket. Instead, it is lifted up high on a pole, so all who are in the house can see it. In the same way, let your light shine by doing what is good and right” (vv. 14–16, FNV).
Creator Sets Free (Jesus) invites all to walk with him and be a light, a village that is not hidden. We are like torches, called to be light for others, burning brightly the goodness we have been taught.
“We Are from Abya Yala,” a post on Publica Theology, describes the term Abya Yala, which represents the connectivity of all of the lands of what non-Indigenous people call the Americas. In the 1970s, the term was adopted by many Native activists, farmers, historians, politicians, and theologians as a unified name in place of North America, Latin America, or similar labels. Like the connected community of Abya Yala, we are called to walk the good road together as followers of Creator Sets Free.
Prayer
Take courage, heart in darkness, Creator Sets Free is here. We are not alone. He is our light and guide to walk the road. Amen.
Dancing Your Prayers
Monday, November 16
Matthew 7:7
“Let your prayers rise like smoke to the Great Spirit, for he will see and answer you. Every step is a prayer, and as you dance upon the earth for the things you seek, the way will open before you” (v. 7, FNV).
As we walk the road with Creator Sets Free, we come across the image of our prayers rising like smoke to the Great Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. In Andean theology, the Quechua term ayni is a core value describing sacred reciprocity. Ayni is known as a “dance of life” and expresses a harmonious, communal connectivity between humanity and all existence.
Our prayers are like a dance of life because we walk many roads, and every step we take is with Creator. Let us trust and continue dancing with Great Spirit who helps us discover what we seek. May we honor each sacred step Great Spirit encourages us to take. May we find rest in Creator’s promise of hope and be encouraged by the ayni of our prayers.
Prayer
Great Spirit, thank you for receiving my dancing prayers. May I always show ayni. May I trust your promises. Amen.
To Trust Is Healing Hope
Tuesday, November 17
Mark 5:24-34
As a crowd followed Creator Sets Free (Jesus), one woman was desperate for healing from her incurable bleeding disease that had kept her isolated from community. She spent all her money on healers but was never healed. How many of us have felt like this woman, experiencing isolation and the desolation of loneliness?
Even though she was considered unclean by tribal law, the woman pressed through the crowd and touched the clothes of Creator Sets Free. Right away, she was healed. Jesus offers hope for us and for the land. His resurrection helps us to believe that authentic healing for our communities is possible.
To trust is to lean on Creator Sets Free as our healer and peace. To trust is to go to him with our dancing prayers, even when our hearts are heavy. To trust in the resurrection of Creator Sets Free is a healing hope.
Prayer
We give you our trust. We receive your healing hope. Amen.
Unconditional Love Beyond Weak Faith
Wednesday, November 18
Mark 9:14-24; Psalm 121:1-2
Sometimes on the road with Creator Sets Free we experience doubt. In Andean theology, Jesus is recognized as Apu Jesucristo, which means “Jesus, the Sacred Mountain.” This name comes from the Quechua people and the belief that mountain peaks were the most powerful protector. It depicts Jesus as the highest mountain, the most powerful protector. “I lift up my eyes to the mountains. Where does my help come from? My help comes from Grandfather, the maker of Father Sky and Mother Earth” (vv. 1–2, FNV). We lift our eyes to Apu Jesucristo. Just as the father in Mark 9 in the midst of his weak faith, it is not by our strength that we receive healing or answered prayers. It is by Apu Jesucristo’s unconditional love, also known as munay in Andean theology, that we find hope.
Prayer
I receive your munay. Help me in times of weak faith. Thank you for being Apu Jesucristo, sacred and powerful watching over us. We find hope in you, Creator Sets Free. Amen.
Rise Up
Thursday, November 19
Luke 7:11-17
“He walked up, opened the blanket, and laid his hands on the young man. The ones carrying it stopped and waited to see what he would do. ‘Young man,’ he said out loud, ‘rise up!’ To the amazement of all, he sat up and began to talk” (vv. 14–15, FNV).
This is another story of Creator Sets Free’s miracles. This time it is for a widow from Village of Harmony, or Nain in other translations, whose only son had crossed over into death. That meant her only source of protection, provision, and generational continuation was gone. Creator Sets Free affirms her deep grief, saying, “Do not weep. The Great Spirit has seen your tears” (v. 13). Creator doesn’t negate our grief. Let us trust the Great Spirit to hear our prayers and not be afraid to speak them to the One who awaits them and gives us munay (unconditional love). Let us turn to Apu Jesucristo, knowing we can trust him each step of the way.
Prayer
Thank you, Great Spirit, for seeing our tears. Creator Sets Free, we trust your munay with ancestral hope and generational expectation. Amen.
Walk The Road As A Child
Friday, November 20
Luke 18:15-17
“Creator Sets Free (Jesus) said to them, ‘Let the children come to me! Do not turn them away. Creator’s good road belongs to the ones who are like these children. I speak from my heart, unless you welcome Creator’s good road in the way a little child does, you will never walk it’” (vv. 16–17, FNV).
The people who brought their children to Creator Sets Free reveal their incredible trust and hope in him. Children are curious for adventure, clinging to their loved ones for support, love, protection, and provision. In the same way, we cling to Apu Jesucristo, knowing he strengthens us each day and gives us rest in our dark nights. We can learn from the hearts of children, which demonstrate Apu Jesucristo’s munay (unconditional love). May we find hope as we come to Creator as little children and welcome others with joy on the good road of faith.
Prayer
May I come to Creator as a little child. Teach me, Great Spirit, to have a little child’s munay and joy to pass on to others the good road of faith. Amen.
Walk The Road Of Love
Saturday, November 21
John 15:16-17
“You may think you chose me, but I am the one who chose you. You are my new garden where I will grow a great harvest of my love—the fruit that remains” (v. 16, FNV).
Creator chose you. You are Apu Jesucristo’s new garden, growing a harvest of his love. We are called as Creator’s children to be image bearers and representatives of love. As First Letter from Small Man to the Sacred Family in Village of Pleasure (1 Corinthians) 13:13 says, “These three remain—faith, hope, and love—and love is the greatest!”
To walk the road of love is not easy, but we are accompanied by Creator, Creator Sets Free, and the Great Spirit. We seek Apu Jesucristo in times of trouble, being expectant of hope and Creator Sets Free’s ayni (sacred reciprocity) of love for us. May our gardens continue to grow the fruit of love, so others can taste and see that Creator is good.
Prayer
With open arms and hearts, we receive your fruit of love. Help us to bear a harvest and share from generation to generation a legacy of love to heal our earth and world. Amen.
