Monsignor Silvo Baezauxiliary bishop of Managua, invited believers to be merciful in the face of the pain of others and true builders of peace, not that “false peace” that people who hold power through arms try to impose.
“Let us not get used to the false peace and the deceptive normality that the powerful want to impose with fear and weapons to preserve their privileges,” the bishop said in his homily this Sunday, April 24, at the Santa Ágatha church in Miami, USA.
In the context of the Russian invasion in Ukraine and the human rights crisis in Nicaragua, Monsignor Báez warned that peace in the world is threatened. “Peoples still live under political systems that impose terror on people, forcing entire populations into submission or forced exile in search of a land of peace,” he declared from exile.
This month, the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo has boasted of the virtual victory of their regime over the Nicaraguans who rebelled during the civic insurrection of April 2018. According to spokeswoman Murillo, “peace” prevailed in the country when neutralize the opponents, despite the more than 300 dead.
Murillo has even congratulated the operators of the repression calling them “heroes of peace” and assuring that “this is God’s plan.” In turn, he increased his verbal attack against priests whom he accused of “violating the gospel to commit crimes against humanity” and threatened them with “neither forgive nor forget” for having helped the victims.
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Monsignor Baez He emphasized this day that only with the peace of Jesus “will we be ferment of unity and not of division, merciful people and not bitter, ambitious or vindictive people”.
“We will be able to understand and forgive, serve and love; we will never humiliate or offend; we will always forgive and bring joy and hope everywhere. Let us welcome the Risen Lord who communicates true peace to us, which we so much need!”, said the religious leader.
Monsignor added that “the disciples of Jesus” are called to be builders of the true peace that arises through justice and produces reconciliation. “There will be no social peace, there will be no peace in the world, if there is no inner peace in people (…) Without peace in the heart we will only radiate suspicion, division and fear.”
Continually accusing and condemning each other and “turning around in bitter guilt” is useless, he said. Baezfor which he exhorted to be “capable of ending the prejudices that divide, the words that hurt, the walls that separate and the violence and hatred that destroy life.”
Despite the regime’s threats against the bishops, Monsignor Báez assured that “today’s wounds, the wounds we suffer when we are wounded loving and helping others, will be scars healed by God, glorious wounds forever. Let us not be afraid to let ourselves be hurt by the pain of others and serving others».
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“On this Sunday of divine mercy, let us welcome the peace of Jesus that makes us come out of our fears, sins and despair and allow his wounds to heal our weaknesses and selfishness. May the mercy of the Lord, welcomed in our hearts, make us mature believers, serious builders of peace in the world and people capable of bowing with mercy before the wounds of our brothers. Our life may not be easier, but it will be fuller, more vibrant and full of light and love », he concluded.
