Three Readings for Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo (5 May) commemorates the Mexican victory over France at the Battle of Puebla on 5 May 1862.¹ And more generally in the United States, Cinco de Mayo is an occasion for the celebration of the culture and heritage of Mexico and, to some extent, Latin America more broadly.² In honor of Cinco de Mayo this year, I’d like to offer the following three readings.

Reading 1

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.³

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.⁴

Reading 2

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”⁵ He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”⁶

Reading 3

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.⁷

1. Header image provided by José Castillo. ↩︎
2. See Daniela Bardon, “The Cultural Bridge of Cinco de Mayo,” Latino Policy Forum; “Cinco de Mayo,” History.com, 22 April 2025. ↩︎
3. United States Constitution, 5th amendment. ↩︎
4. United States Constitution, 14th amendment, §1. ↩︎
5. Image provided by Europeana. ↩︎
6. Luke 10:25–37 ESV. ↩︎
7. “Martin Niemöller: First They Came For …,” Holocaust Encyclopedia, 11 April 2023. ↩︎