Steve Plenert is the co-representative for MCC Bolivia.
As we approach Easter there can be a strong urge to look past the crucifixion and jump to the resurrection. At least I was feeling that this year. Maybe I’m seeing a lot of the world’s pain this year, I don’t know. But then I accompanied a group of SALT and YAMEN volunteers to Potosi, an ancient city in the Bolivian highlands. Potosi was once the economic and population center of the entire region. Vast quantities of silver were mined here – particularly by the Spanish Conquistadores – and sent across the ocean to Spain. We toured the Casa de la Moneda which is where silver coins were minted. The treatment of workers (mostly local indigenous and African slaves) was atrocious and the life expectancy of many was extremely low because of mining and minting work. During the tour I took these two pictures of Christ crucified on a cross of silver.
I was reminded how it was the Empire of the time that crucified Jesus and was struck how the Indigenous and African people were “crucified” by the lust for silver of another Empire.
Steve Plenert.
Lord God. We come to you as people seeking to be faithful and those who wish to follow the way of the cross of our Lord. The crucifixion of Christ is ever a reminder to us of the brutality of sin. We pray that we would have the courage to face our own complicity with Empire. That we would seek to not participate in any further oppression of Indigenous peoples anywhere in the world. We thank you that the Crucified One died for all sins of all times. May we live as people of forgiven-ness and forgiveness. Thank you that the Spirit of Christ empowers us to face the challenges of this world and to engage injustice in the world and to seek its transformation. As we think of the silver of Bolivia may we also understand how other things we value may be a part of the oppression of others and seek to change our ways. We are eternally grateful for the sacrifice of Christ who died to show us the way to newness of life. Amen