General Ignacio Zaragoza

Today is May 05. In Spanish, “Cinco de Mayo.” It is an annual celebration commemorating the Mexican Army’s victory (under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza) over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862. How many of us knew that, huh? I’ll bet virtually nobody. Nonetheless, it does not stop Americans from having a big celebration. Am I right?  In fact, Cinco de Mayo, is actually more popularly celebrated in the United States than in Mexico. Americans. We do love a party.

We do the same with St. Patrick. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place not in Ireland but in America. Records show that on March 17, 1600, in a Spanish colony in what is now St. Augustine, Florida, a St. Patrick’s Day celebration was organized by the Spanish Colony’s Irish vicar Ricardo Artur. The following year, they held the first St. Patrick’s Day parade on this continent. It took Ireland three hundred years to catch up. The first St Patrick’s Day parade in Ireland was not held until 1903! Again, we Americans do love to celebrate.

I mention this, because my son Jeremy’s favorite Bible verse is Psalm 150.  

“Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heaven! Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness! Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn; praise him with the lyre and harp! Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes! Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals. Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:1-6)

This sounds like a celebration if ever there was one! Blasting ram’s horns, loud clanging cymbals. The worshipers are joyful, excited, inspired. Why so jubilant? Think about it. The Bible begins by presenting us with two roads: the way to life and the way to death. If we choose God’s way (the way to life), yes, we will still face blessings and troubles, joy and grief, successes and failures. However, we also read that through it all, God is at our side, guiding, encouraging, comforting, and caring. 

As time passes, we see more and more clearly that God’s road is the right road. Knowing this should motivate us to praise Him. Praise Him for leading us in the right direction. Praise Him for assuring us of a place in the perfect world He has in store for those who have faithfully followed him. Praise Him for sending His Son to secure a room in our Father’s home. 

Look, I’m sure General Ignacio Zaragoza was a good guy, and the victory over the French was important. Just as was Patrick’s work converting pagans in Ireland in the fifth century. I do not diminish their accomplishments at all. However, Christ free us from eternal damnation. Forgave our sins. Does that not merit celebration too? It does. This is why, I don’t think worship should be too quiet or reserved. How can celebrate with green beer and Corona’s on St. Patrick’s Day and Cinco de Mayo, and not Praise God with similar energy and enthusiasm? On Sundays, blast your ram’s horn! Praise God in His sanctuary, and on every day in between! Why? God loves us! He saved us! His is so worthy of our praise!       

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Remember to email your praises and petitions to southchurchprayer@gmail.com. We lift them up every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, at 4:00 pm on Facebook Live.