Crônicas do Cotidiano

But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret,
and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
–Matthew 6:6

It was the first week of January (in São Paulo, Brazil) and Isabel had just closed the lid of her Christmas trunk (a large chest made of Dutch cedar). Inside, she had again placed the artificial tree and its ornaments, together with the objects that always made up the family atmosphere at this time of the year. The house now seemed empty and cold, without the colourful glitter of the decorations and devoid of the happy presence of the relatives and friends that had been part of the celebrations of the birth of Christ and the arrival of the New Year. She was already missing them. Nevertheless, after so many days of shopping, planning and serving meals, taking care of guests and participating in services and programs, she now seemed to have finally reached the peace and quiet she needed to start keeping her “New Year’s Resolution”.

Read the rest of this article »

Lord, once more I have eaten and drunk in your house. I stretched out my hand and brought bread to my mouth. The taste of the wine still lingers. They are reminders of the body and blood of your only Son, broken and shed for me.

Father, I have done this so often, in various churches, cities and even countries. Now I wonder if at any time, in any of these places, I ever truly “discerned the body” of my broken Master. And when I participated today, was it “worthily?” Why did my heart not cry when I thought of the broken body and of the death that I should be “showing” while I swallowed twice?

Read the rest of this article »

The telephone rang. It was Saturday, but Isabel’s husband had had to go to work. Neto was tired and sad. In his company, the owners were fighting amongst themselves. Relationships were being permanently broken. In a climate of fear and hate, Neto was trying to maintain his testimony while he dealt with treason and corruption, with the demands of his bosses, and with the insecurity of the employees.

But, now, Neto was thinking about something else.
– Tell me, ‘Bel. How did it go today? Was it like you expected?

Read the rest of this article »