Scripture: Luke 6:35-38;42

"But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." ... How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

Message:

It was a cold and difficult time for the Pilgrims. Food Stocks were low. The ground they were trying desperately to work was shallow and seemed to fight their every attempt at taming it fertile. Nothing they had learned and knew seemed to work in what some would have said was a God forsaken place. And yet there were locals. Indigenous Indians who lived peacefully. And seemed to have enough for their daily needs.

It was during this time of frustration and hunger that perhaps the first chance of friendship and generosity was made. The local Indians approached the farmers and shared with them a few of the local traditions. And with this there was a small improvement in the quantity of food. And a meal more then an actual feast or Celebration was shared. The general idea for this date has been agreed upon as the Autumn of 1621.

Yet we learned from history that this date may be out by close to 100 years. We are told of the Jaragua Massacre of 1503. Which was ordered by the then Spanish governor of Santo Domingo, Nicolás de Ovando. This took place after a Thanksgiving celebration or Meal held in the village of Yaguana in Jaragua of the cacica Anacaona. Although the festival ended up as a massacre, it is oddly regarded as the first Thanksgiving of the New World.

This is not the image that sells Cards. Nor is this the image that adults wish to teach their children. This is an image of cruel brutality. Driven by those who feared they would starve if the local heathens were to continue to eat their food.
It seems poignant and powerful now to reflect on the words that the Indians leader a Queen in here own right and title. Words which as Christians we can see many truths and similarities to our own Faith. Words which I will use as part of our prayer.

Prayer:

Lord we take time to reflect on these words;
“It is not honourable to kill;
nor can honour propitiate the tragedy.
Let us open a bridge of love,
so that across it even our enemies may walk,
and leave for posterity their footprints.”

You Lord have taught us so much about Love and Forgiveness.
We pray that you will continue to guide us.
By the Holy Spirit and in your Faith.

Not to judgement,
Nor to condemnation,
But to embrace all that you created.
In your loving name,
Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen