Coined in God's Image Through Baptism

Hello!  ¡Hola!  I didn't have much time to work on art this past week, but it was filled with blessings.  Half the week, I was in San Antonio, Texas, as I serve on the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas' Latino Ministries, and we hosted an event.  I also celebrated a Baptism at my church on Sunday, so that involved extra planning.  God is good!

Inspired by the Autumn celebration of remembrance of El Día de los Muertos, with its colors, flowers, and symbolism, I designed this ATC.  I used the Spellbinders Dancing Girl Day of the Dead dies set; a Sizzix Tim Holtz Gift Tags Thinlits; and a KSCraft ATC Cards die.  I used a Copic Fine Nib Inking Pen to write a quote by Mexican comedian and ventriloquist, Johnny Welch, in Spanish.  It translates to - "Death does not come with old age, it comes with oblivion."  I am submitting this to The Card Concept #230 {Fall Harvest}, Beautiful Blossoms - Mood Board #46, and The Dream Factory Challenge #155.

1- T is for Tuesday

2- What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday

3- My Sunday Best

4- Mosaic Monday

5- Friday Face Off

6- Art For Fun Friday

7- Saturday Critters

The pictures above are my this, that and the other for last week:

1- This is a camping canteen I personalized with die-cut permanent adhesive vinyl letters.

2- These are my parochial school's acolytes and me before our Chapel service last week.

3- This is a photograph I took during the Latino Ministries workshop in San Antonio.

4- These are sculptures of La Virgen de Guadalupe and San Juan Diego, found at the Bishop Jones Center.

5- This is a photo I took at La Panaderia, of a Día de los Muertos Sugar Skull Sculpture.

6- This is the Baptism of Baby Aurora that I celebrated on Sunday.

7- These are my cats Gris and Sammy relaxing in my home art-studio/office on Sunday afternoon.

In closing, I have a summary of my sermon for the 21st Sunday after Pentecost:

In today’s Gospel reading, the Judean religious leaders and Herodians are trying to entrap Jesus, by asking, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?”  This type of Pharisee-Herod conspiracy is still part of our world.  It’s played out every time some Christians over-simplify complex issues, make generalizations about groups of people, and manipulate Jesus’ truth.  This lack of willingness to listen to, understand, and love others is what’s causing divisions.  Jesus refuses to play games.  He doesn’t answer their question with a yes or no.  Instead he deepens the question and turns it into a question of faith, truth, and life. If the coin belongs to the emperor, then human beings belong to God.  Each has been marked with the image of its owner. Christians have been coined in the image of God by the Holy Spirit during Baptism.  However, being coined in God’s image, is more than a symbolic act.  It takes making changes.  In today’s Epistle, Paul tells us that the Thessalonians exemplified the truth of conversion through active faith, deep endurance under all circumstance, and a loving witness to others.  Jesus invites us to do the same for ourselves, as we're coined in God’s image through Baptism.

Thanks for visiting.  Gracias por visitarme.  Please leave a comment, and I'll be glad to reciprocate, so that we can get to know each other.

Shalom,

Arnoldo+