Hispanic Heritage Month Lessons at OCU

Young worshipers crowded into Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel on the Oklahoma City University campus along with a choir and an ensemble composed of wind instruments.

With a welcoming message at the entrance, plus inclusive worship bulletins, the worship service was prepared by Rev. Aly Shahan and her team of student leaders.

Carlos Ramirez, Associate Director of Connectional Ministries for Congregational Vitality and Coordinator of Hispanic/Latino Ministries, plus senior pastor at Southern Hills UMC in Oklahoma City, preached at OCU for Hispanic Heritage Month.

Ramirez reminded those gathered about the problems surrounding the word Hispanic. “It was not a name that we -- Hispanics -- came up with,” explained Ramirez. “Hispanic covers all differences that exists among people from different parts of South America: Mexicans, Guatemalans, Peruvians, Chileans are very different. We have different costumes, traditions, dishes, etc, that makes us unique. Mexicans alone are very different. People from the north are different from people in the south, like me.”

He also addressed the fact that many people considered Hispanic are Black and others are white, according to the description given by the U.S. government. It can be a struggle to find a way to define themselves.

Using the text of Philippians 2:1-11, Ramirez compared the Christians of Philippi to the people who may be seen as other in the current era.

“The Roman social ladder consisted of acquiring honor that translated into a higher status in community,” said Ramirez. He went on to describe how wealth and power garnered favor and status in ancient Rome.

The use of the word Lord was reserved for Caesar, and for Philippian Christians to use that to honor Jesus, a man who was crucified - which was considered a dishonorable death.

While Rome’s priority was social climbing and the acquisition of honor or even positions of government leadership, Christians were “following Jesus’ example of not grasping for power, but let it go -- emptying one-self -- become a servant and even die under the most humiliating of deaths,” observed Ramirez.

“This is the life these Romans have chosen because of their faith in Jesus Christ. They are not seeking honor, they are getting rid of any and all pretentiousness.”

This brings the focus back to Hispanic Heritage Month. Ramirez stated that it “pushes us to go beyond definitions.”

“Perhaps what I want to emphasize today in this celebration,” concluded Ramirez, “is the fact that in our country exists a variety and diversity of people that it is hard to label them. We celebrate today that differences are good and valuable for our community/country. That our experience is one of many in our country and this realization humbles us and forces us to go beyond stereotypes and prejudice. Today we celebrate the richness and the blessing of differences. We celebrate that our faith in Jesus Christ then becomes our common denominator. Our Faith in Christ helps us to chose to be together amid our differences and we celebrate our differences. Our Faith in Christ gives us the strength to not be threaten by our differences and not to understand our differences.”

According to census.gov, Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated September 15 to October 15. This configuration is so because of September 15’s significance as the anniversary of the independence of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

September 16 is the anniversary of Mexican Independence, and Chile’s independence is celebrated on September 16.