Monsignor Silvio Báez, Auxiliary Bishop of Managua, based his homily from the Santa Agatha Church, in Miami, United States, on the biblical passage of Saint Luke, where Jesus speaks of “the narrow gate” to reach heaven.
The Catholic hierarch exhorted the powerful of the earth not to be “little gods”, but to seek God’s salvation. «Salvation is a gift of God offered to all (…) God is good, but he is not permissive and indifferent to our way of behaving. Salvation is a free but demanding gift », he explained.
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He indicated that “going through the narrow gate” is welcoming God’s love and loving others with compassion, with respect, with concern for their good and with a spirit of service.
Alluding to the questionable religiosity professed by the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, the prelate pointed out that not everyone can “go through the door” of salvation. “Lies, selfishness and ambitions cannot pass through this door; neither can injustice, oppression and violence pass, and much less, hypocritical religiosity, made of words or sterile rites.
“Those who have become “fat in spirit” because of the selfishness that has swollen them with pride do not pass through the door that leads to life, those who have “fattened” with ambition and arrogance do not pass, nor do those who dominate cruelly because they have “inflated” themselves with self-sufficiency until they believe they are little gods,” he stressed.
Monsignor Báez emphasized that every religious act “is useless” if people do not make an effort to accept “God’s love and forgiveness with humility and do not treat our brothers with compassion and solidarity.”
“Those who fabricate slander” do not enter heaven
In reference to the hate speech by art of the Nicaraguan regime against the Catholic Church and the current attack against priests, the prelate said that “On a social level, honeyed speeches that invoke God and speak of him are useless and blasphemous, while hateful words are uttered, infamous slanders are fabricated and the people are made to suffer.
“Those who exercise power, do not deceive yourself: they will not be happy or reach salvation by being unjust and cruel. Understand that making others suffer closes the door that leads to life. And do not forget that no one is eternal, only God. Strive to enter through the narrow gate! », he exhorted.
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He affirmed that Christians are not “those in power who use the law to carry out illegal acts, nor those who call evil good and good evil (cf. Is 5:20). The tyrants who carry crimes and injustices behind their backs are heading to their ruin.
Báez concluded by advising the powerful and oppressors to let “the gospel of Jesus enlighten their conscience, take responsibility for their crimes and make room for love in their hearts. «If you want to truly live and save yourself, free those you hold captive, stop believing you are eternal and act thinking of the well-being of all, not just accumulating wealth and increasing your power.. Fight not to oppress and subdue, but to enter through the narrow gate of love, justice and truth».
He also advised the parishioners never to despair. “Let us lean on God, no matter how silent or distant he may seem, because he never abandons us. To trust in this way is also to go through “the narrow door”».
The religious’s words come at a time when the Church is experiencing “voracious” persecution at the hands of the Ortega regime, who has locked up Catholic priests and prevents freedom of worship.
