«Cheer up, raise your head! God is with you, not with the wicked and oppressors!” he exhorted Monsignor Silvio José Báez to the politically persecuted in the midst of the imprisonment of religious and lay members of the Nicaraguan Catholic Church.
The auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Managua, exiled in the United States, referred to three beatitudes according to the gospel of this SundayJanuary 29: that of the poor in spirit, that of those who hunger and thirst for justice, and that of those who are persecuted because of justice.
«Those who for the sake of goodness and truth are slandered, are persecuted, condemned, suffer imprisonment or have been forced into exile, have not been wrong. Jesus invites you not to feel defeated, but rather happy for your choices and your struggles, since the powers of the world persecute and outrage the witnesses of the truth and the prophets of God”, said the monsignor, at a time when more than one dozens of religious and lay people are imprisoned under the Nicaraguan dictatorship.
To those who have not agreed or bowed to tyrants, who have resisted and denounced the ambitions for power, and “have endured the cross to be on the side of those crucified today, they have chosen the right path,” he added.
The prelate sent the message days after the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo declared “guilty” six religious and a layman from the diocese of Matagalpain what would be the prelude to the political trial against Monsignor Rolando Alvarezbishop of the diocese of that department and critic of human rights violations in the country.
The Nicaraguan dictatorship accuses them of conspiring and spreading false news against it. Monsignor Báez has been one of the qualified voices that has demanded the unconditional release of Monsignor Álvarez and other members of the Church.
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The religious leader also invited those who are “hungry and thirsty for justice” not to give up or “join the gang of the corrupt and violent because justice always comes.”
“Do not be discouraged! God is with you and he will make fruitful your dreams and your efforts in favor of truth, peace and justice,” he said.
Regarding the “poor in spirit,” the auxiliary bishop explained that they “make an effort, are organized, are not self-sufficient or arrogant, listen with respect to what others think and are willing to change their minds if necessary”; Furthermore, they trust in God’s design.
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«In relation to material goods, they do not live obsessed with always having more and more. They like to share more than accumulate, they are supportive and charitable », he added.
To all of them he reiterated “blessed you, because by carrying the cross you walk towards the resurrection!”.
“Blessed is the Church persecuted for following Jesus, because hers is the Kingdom of God!” he said, emphasizing that the beatitudes are the path of life and happiness.
