IT’S A TIME TO GIVE THANKS

Pauline Seisegh ~ Sisters of the Precious Blood

This is true and real as l entered for the first time into the Hispanic Art Museum. The very first picture that caught my attention was the big altar, well-decorated with bright colors and many photographs. At a closer look, l noticed that the photographs were from different countries and interdenominational. Some flowers and food and drinks were beside the photos and it was explained that they were the kinds of food or drinks the dead used to like while on earth. It’s time to give thanks to God for the gift of all those who have gone before us.

Reflecting on such a powerful exhibition l realized that Mexicans have a beautiful culture. They devote time to celebrate and reunite with the dead. It reminded me of my own culture, too. Those who have died before us are still living with us. They walk with us and even direct us on our paths. We celebrate them with such love, compassion, and hope. Food, drinks, and other things like pictures are displayed on the altars to remind us of our dead persons and unite with them as we celebrate the time of the dead. It brings about the bond of unity between the living and the dead.

All the decorated altars in the museum had something very symbolic. They had

Jesus, Mary, and the Saints, photos of heroes and heroines, all depicting the good and wonderful deeds of such people who fought a good fight to pave the way for freedom. I was really impressed with the inculturation of the gospel, culture, and tradition in the Museum. In everything, there is the belief that God’s hand is always with His people. The exhibition of paintings of slavery depicted the pain and suffering that was involved but the faith and hope in God gave victory.

On one of the doors hung the caption, “Make Tacos, not War.” Good advice to our leaders of the twenty-first century. Tacos will bring peace as people of different races, colors, nationalities and tribes sit together and make merry. But can our leaders read this? Will they understand it and stop building up wars instead of bridges to peace? We need to pray for our fractured world and its leaders.

Special artists use the museum to call for social change as they depict things that call for our leaders to have a change of mind in some of their ways. Carlos Cortez Koyokuikatl says, “My greatest goal is to feel I’ve turned on others to the path of creativity. Turned on others, not only to their own personal creativity, but to work toward a truly creative society. A society that is more egalitarian, more loving of each other, more recognizing of the worth in each of us.” May the God of peace rain down peace on earth so that we make tacos not war.