“Un gran abismo” / “A great chasm”

Un recurso para la liturgia dominical basado en Lucas 16:19-31
Publicado originalmente el 9/23/16 por el blog de la revista Presbyterians Today: One Church, Many Voices

My nephew Alex crosses a bridge over a branch of the Pastaza River, in eastern Ecuador. / Mi sobrino Alex cruza un puente sobre un brazo del río Pastaza en el Oriente ecuatoriano. 

Por Magdalena I. García

Iba y venía día tras día
un hombre rico
absorto en su vida de comodidad
cegado por su afán de popularidad
mientras que a su puerta
estaba un mendigo
aguardando un gesto de amabilidad
anhelando migajas de caridad.

Va y viene día tras día
una iglesia pudiente
absorta en su vida de religiosidad
cegada por su afán de santidad
mientras que a su puerta
se agolpan multitudes
aguardando un gesto de solidaridad
anhelando migajas de generosidad.

Y entre esas dos poblaciones
hay un gran abismo
de obstáculos y disparidad
de apatía e insensibilidad
que clama por un puente,
un pueblo de fe y acción
dispuesto a renunciar al mito de la seguridad
y a arriesgar su propia vida en fidelidad.

Danos ojos, Dios de los pobres,
para ver tus propósitos con claridad
y actuar con justicia a favor de la humanidad.
Danos valor, Dios de los marginados,
para renunciar al evangelio de la prosperidad
y ofrecer a todas tus criaturas genuina hospitalidad.

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“A great chasm”

A resource for Sunday’s liturgy based on Luke 16:19-31

First published on 9/23/16 by Presbyterians Today magazine blog: One Church, Many Voices

by Magdalena I. García

A rich man
came and went day by day
absorbed by his life of luxury
blinded by his thirst for popularity
while at his door
laid a beggar
awaiting a gesture of courtesy
longing for crumbs of charity.

A wealthy church
comes and goes day by day
absorbed by its life of religiosity
blinded by its thirst for sanctity
while at its door
multitudes gather
awaiting a gesture of solidarity,
longing for crumbs of generosity.

And between these two populations
there is a great chasm
of obstacles and disparity
of apathy and insensitivity
that cries out for a bridge,
a people of faith and action
willing to renounce the myth of security
and risk its own life in fidelity.

God of the poor, give us eyes
to see your purposes with clarity
and act with justice towards humanity.
God of the marginalized, give us courage
to renounce the gospel of prosperity
and offer all your creatures genuine hospitality.

© Magdalena I. García