Wednesday, December 19, 2012

BLESSED ARE THE WOMAN



Cheers from the woman echoed through the street as we, myself and fellow missioner Catherine get off the bus in Brasilandia.  The woman waited at the bus stop for us so we could walk together through the streets of the favela in Brazil in order to pray the novena.  The novena is a ritual the woman of Brazil practice many times during the year and today we journey together through Advent. 

We weave through the streets of the favela, streets that just weeks ago were paralyzed by fear from the violence between the police and the gangs but are now alive with the rhythm of life.  Children run through the streets with the strings of a kite in their hands, dogs run next to the children, teens huddle together on a doorstep talking and laughing, men stand and talk to one another, and a group of young men are setting off firecrackers still celebrating the win of their beloved soccer team.  The woman stroll together laughing and catching up on the weekly news of their lives. 

We reach the door of our hostess Celma and she greets us with hugs and kisses. So happy to have us visit her home.  Gathered this evening are nine woman who have worked all day, traveled several hours on a bus to get home, in order to cook for their families, before carving out a little bit of time for themselves to meet and pray.  Prayer meetings in Brasilandia begin around 8pm.  Which is the earliest that folks can get to the church. 

We begin to pray the novena.  I struggle to follow the Portuguese since I am still a new missioner.  I know the prayers are about Mary’s journey to Bethlehem.  We reflect on Mary’s courage and her strength.  I look around the room and I can see the same strength in the woman gathered.  I am very conscious of the noise and things happening around us.  Outside the front gate fireworks continue to go off.  The smell of sulfur fills the room.  Somewhere close by someone has their stereo on and the music bounces off the walls of the house.  Preteen boys run though the house and two girls about seven run up and down the stairs and through the middle of the group several times.  And yet the prayer never stops, never slows.  The woman roll with all the things happening around us.  I wonder if they even notice them like I do. 

I reflect on how with all the commotion, with all the challenges and difficulties that these woman encounter they remain steadfast in their faith.   I think about Mary the Mother of Jesus and how much commotion she must have experienced in her life.  Living faith is not always quiet.  It happens in the mist of life.  I am so impressed by the strong convection of these woman in Brazil who in all the ciaos and demands of their lives remain fervent in their faith. And this night when the women sing “Ava Maria” suddenly all the noise that had once been so profound is no longer apparent.  In a favela in Brazil, woman’s voices join in solidarity praying for joy and for peace.   

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