Rev. Luiz Fernando Pereira Garupe
Metropolitan Community Church, São Paulo - Emmaus Community
São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Translated from the Portuguese by Geraldine Wright

This series of readings is a ceremony of celebration of God's blessing, even when we find ourselves struggling with God. It is suitable for a meeting to share, pray and reflect together.

Reader 1: from Genesis 32:24-30 NIV
So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." Then the man asked him, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he answered. Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." Jacob said, "Please tell me your name." But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."

Reader 2: Long ago, the patriarch Jacob made camp and, during the night, someone entered his tent and fought with him until the sun rose. Jacob took on the fight, even knowing that his adversary was God. At daybreak he still was not defeated, and only stopped fighting when God agreed to bless him.

Reader 3: This story was transmitted from generation to generation, so that no one would forget: at times it is necessary to fight with God. Every human being, at some point, sees a tragedy cross his/her life: which can be the destruction of a city, the death of a child, a false accusation, an illness that leaves him/her permanently invalid. In this moment, God challenges him/her to face Him and respond to His question: "Why do you cling so much to an existence so short and full of suffering? What is the meaning of your fight?"

Reader 4: Then the man or woman who doesn't know how to respond to this question resigns him/herself. Meanwhile another, who seeks a meaning for existence, thinks that God has been unjust, and then defies his own destiny. It is in this moment that another fire descends from the heavens - not that which kills - but that one which destroys the old walls, and gives to every human being his/her true possibilities.

Reader 1: God desires that every one has in his/her hands the responsibility of his/her own life. After all, He had given to His sons and daughters the greatest of all gifts: the capacity to choose one's own actions. Only those men and women with the sacred calling in their hearts have the courage to face Him. And only these know the road back to His love, because, in the end, they understand that a tragedy is not a punishment, but a challenge. God wants to show that we must choose, not merely accept, our destiny.

Reader 2: Many, many years ago, in a night just like this one, Jacob would not let God leave before blessing him. It was then that God asked, "What is your name?"

Everyone: Let us pray: To You, God, I would like to return in this instant. I want to praise You with all my will, and not with the cowardice of one who doesn't know how to choose a different route. Meanwhile, in order for You to entrust me with Your important mission, I need to continue in the battle against You, until You bless me. Amen.

Reader 4: From now on, each of us will give ourselves a new name. This will be the sacred name, that encompasses in one word everything for which we dream of fighting. For my name I choose...

The author of this material is Reverend Luiz Fernando Pereira Garupe, pastor of Emaús Metropolitan Community Church in São Paulo, Brazil.