January 25

Dear Friends,

This week I told the story of Joseph’s reconciliation with his brothers to fourteen wide-eyed children. They’d heard of the ‘technicolor coat’ but not the end of the story. Joseph is an example of God’s grace and forgiveness. Did his brothers deserve this? No. None of us deserves grace. But God takes what is meant for evil and turns it into something GOOD.

I was reading in the newspaper about some Navajo masks that were discovered at an auction house in France and were bought so they could be returned to the Navajo Nation. Here are some quotes from the stories from the Navajo Times dated December 2014.

…They verified the masks as being of Navajo origin. In a private ceremony held at the Drouot Auction House, [Navajo Vice-President Rex Lee] Jim offered Navajo prayers for the masks, which are believed to be from the early 1900s.

“In our prayers and songs to these sacred Navajo beings, we spoke and our deities know that we do care,” [Vice-President] Jim said.  “Our ceremony was a way to reconnect with them and to let them know that we are here to take them home.

…”these masks are spiritual beings and the Navajo people have strong connections with them,” Jim added.

…R. Brown conducted ceremonies and prayers on behalf of the masks and the delegation over this past weekend.

…In total there were 34 masks that were identified by the tribal officials to be Navajo.

…Hale said once the masks return to the Navajo Nation, medicine healers will ‘formally acknowledge and ceremonially rejuvenated them back into the motherland.

…The masks, which include the deities of Black God and the Hero Twins, have a Blessing Way tentatively scheduled for them, according to Tony Joe, program manager for the Historic Preservation Department’s Traditional Culture Program.

…Medicine healers…had conducted hand trembling, protection prayer and other rituals, including at a Night Way Chant Ceremony, for the masks…The Yei Bi Chei masks are used in the Night Way Chant Ceremony during the winter.

…Gorman added that he told French officials about the spiritual nature of the masks, noting that they were not artifacts…For [Program Manager] Joe, now that the masks are back in Navajo, he encourages people to respect and honor such cultural items.

            When I first read this, I thought about this Nation steeped in spiritism and darkness through ceremonies and rituals. There is such a mission field here right in the United States. But, then I thought about God’s grace. Why should we have been given the Light of Christ and had the Way of Salvation taught to us since we were little children? And you came to Christ – He saved you out of whatever road to hell you were on by choice and by His grace.

Thank Him for His grace, which is sufficient in our weakness. And pray that our lives reflect His grace and peace this week.

P.S. There are no photographs of the masks as photography of holy items is not permitted. But there are other Navajo mask images on Google.