Mgr Silvio Jose Baez Ortega, auxiliary bishop of Managua, described the dictators as “thieves and bandits”, whom he pointed out as “disguising themselves as politicians, but in reality they are delinquents and criminals.”
In his homily, from the Santa Agatha Church in Miami, United States, based on the parable of the “good shepherd” and the “door that leads us to freedom and true life”, the prelate indicated that currently the flock of The text speaks of the people, “who are continually threatened by “thieves and bandits” who “come only to steal, kill and destroy” (Jn 10:10)”.
Related news: Monsignor Báez to Bishop Álvarez: «Today Jesus tells him: I will take you out of that tomb»
«In the time of Jesus, “thieves and bandits” were also the messianic leaders who deceived the people, deluding themselves with false messages of liberation and with violent rebellions that ended in dramatic bloodshed. They were also “thieves and bandits” the powerful of the time, whom Jesus in Galilee had seen act with inhuman cruelty against ordinary people: landowners, usurers, soldiers “, he contextualized.
Bringing the biblical story to the reality that society lives, especially Nicaragua, the priest pointed out that currently “it is thieves and bandits who promote discord and confrontation among the people who dream of their liberation, those who disguise themselves as democrats, but deep down they play the game of power ».
He added that “those who adore their wealth as a god and are incapable of sacrificing it for authentic social change in favor of the common good” are also “thieves and bandits”.
Alluding to the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, the monsignor affirmed that it is thieves and robbers who “prefer to see people without initiative, without dignity and without a future, who are not interested in helping the people walk and build a more just and dignified, who are afraid that people will think, express themselves and be critical (…)».
Related news: Monsignor Silvio Báez criticizes dictators who “god on and impose themselves with violence”
Unlike the powerful who disguise themselves as shepherds, Báez said that the “true shepherd enters through the door of the fold and “the sheep listen to his voice”, because his voice is different. Jesus does not impose rigid commandments, does not say anything that causes fear, or utter deceitful words.
«He —Jesus— has not come to harm and oppress. He calls his sheep, “one by one” (Jn 10,3). Each one of us is unique and unrepeatable. We each have a name and a story that Jesus knows and that is how he loves us. He loves us personally, just the way we are. For him we are not an anonymous mass. Massification of people is contrary to love and depersonalization only promotes despotic dominance,” he exhorted.
“Jesus does not let his sheep live under unjust powers”
On the other hand, the hierarch stressed that Jesus Christ does not allow his sheep to live subjected to unjust powers, nor imprisoned by any human power. “Jesus takes us out of the pens that enslave and the shelters that isolate,” he stressed.
«Jesus is a shepherd of a flock on the way out, in front of which he goes before indicating the way and instilling confidence and hope. His sheep trust the shepherd who is in front of them, they see the path he takes, they know he is safe, they know that at the end of that row is the smell of life. An authentic pastor promotes freedoms and does not cause fears », he remarked.
Referring to the door of eternal life that Jesus symbolizes, the cardinal said “today more than ever we must be like Jesus, open doors for each other, in such a way that we can live with compassion, understanding and solidarity.”
The bishop’s message comes in a context in which the Nicaraguan dictatorship is carrying out a repressive wave against the Catholic Church and the people, whom they imprison, condemn, exile and persecute, among whom is Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, currently a hostage of conscience for the dictatorship of Ortega and Murillo.
