Holy Week is a big deal here in Guatemala. Part of the reason is wide-spread Catholic faith in the country. The whole country has the week of Holy Week off, so we went to Sacapulas, the home town of Karla.
The trip there was very difficult. There were many beautiful sights that I unfortunately did not get to see because I was car sick and spent most of my time sleeping. Through this I did experience my first time throwing up in a car because of motion sickness, but that's okay! :(
Our week was spent mostly relaxing and enjoying a different town of Guatemala. Karla's family owns and runs a bakery from their house, so it was fun to be a part of that. For this reason, there are people in and out of their house all the time. We enjoyed traditional food made by Karla's family, including fresh turkey that was slaughtered the day we ate it for my birthday. Marie and I also spent some time in local internet cafes applying for jobs. It was a new experience for us, but made the experience more authentic.
The house is very big and open. It is almost like living in a courtyard with rooms. Two of Karla's siblings live there with their families along with some of the girls that work for Karla's family and Karla's parents. One of the girls was our cook in Obrahuelo, so Marie and I had a chance to visit with her again and meet her sister. It was fun to reconnect with her!
Karla's parents are also hosting a volunteer in the Peace Corps, so we were able to spend some time exploring with her. One of these times was when we enjoyed watching the festivities of Holy Week that are celebrated in Sacapulas, including an re-enactment of the crucifixion. Below are some pictures of that.
One night we also played soccer against Karla's sister and family. We won!! I also scored my first goal!! I was so excited! :)
Overall, it was a very refreshing, relaxing, enjoyable week filled with peace and relaxation. It was a great way to celebrate the Easter season.
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| One of the "floats" of the processional |
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| Me, Marie, and the Peace Corps volunteer |
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| High-tech trial complete with microphone and video camera |
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| beaten and bruised Jesus |
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| Jesus with his cross and the catholic church in the background |
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| Hanging on the cross |
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| Landscape in Sacapulas |
THE PRIESTHOOD
ReplyDeleteAre all Christians priests? Is it possible for all believers in Christ to approach God the father with only Jesus Christ as a mediator? Yes. Jesus is our high priest. There is the priesthood of all believers. There is Jesus the high priest. There is no mention of the office of priest in the New Testament church, that is a man-made tradition. There is no office of "priest" that is the authority in the local church or the mediator between man and God.
PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS
1 Peter 2:5-9 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ..........9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
All Christians are part of the priesthood.
Revelation 1:5-6 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood---6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father--- to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
All who have been washed by the blood of Jesus have been made priests to God the Father by Jesus. THERE IS NOT AN OFFICE OF PRIEST; all Christians are priests.
THE HIGH PRIEST
Hebrews 4:14-15 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weakness, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus is our one and only high priest. He is the only priest we need.
JESUS IS OUR MEDIATOR
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator also between God and men, the man Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the only mediator between God and men. The Virgin Mary is not a mediator. There are not man-made priests that are mediators between God and men.
ALL CHRISTIANS ARE PRIESTS!
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