“Ánimo” / “Take heart”

Una reflexión basada en Mateo 9:18-26 / A reflection based on Matthew 9:18-26


Mi esposo rescatando un pichón / My husband rescuing a fledgling

“¡Ánimo, hija!”,
le dice Jesús a la mujer
que ha sido marginada
debido a su enfermedad,
y con esas palabras le devuelve
la salud y la comunidad.

“¡Ánimo, hijo!”,
le dice Jesús al inmigrante
que ha sido ultrajado
debido a su raza y etnicidad,
y con esas palabras le devuelve
la autoestima y la respetabilidad.

“¡Ánimo, hije!”,
le dice Jesús al prójimo cuir
que ha sido rechazado
debido a su sexualidad,
y con esas palabras le devuelve
la aceptación y la dignidad.

“¡Ánimo, criaturas amadas!”,
le dice Jesús a la humanidad
que ha sido golpeada
debido a la injusticia y la desigualdad,
y con esas palabras le devuelve
la esperanza y la tranquilidad.

“¡Ánimo, iglesia aletargada!”,
nos dice Jesús a sus discípulas y seguidores
que estamos adormecidos
debido a la costumbre y la comodidad,
y con ese gesto nos recuerda
que somos pueblo llamado
a pronunciar palabras de aliento,
a derribar muros de separación,
y a ofrecer genuina solidaridad
rompiendo las cadenas de toda opresión.

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“Take heart, daughter!”,
Jesus says to the woman
who has been marginalized
due to her illness,
and with those words restores
her health and her place in the community.

“Take heart, my son!”,
Jesus says to the immigrant
who has been insulted
due to his race and ethnicity,
and with those words restores
his self-esteem and respectability.

“Take heart, siblings!”,
Jesus says to our queer neighbors
who have been rejected
due to their sexuality,
and with those words restores
their acceptance and dignity.

“Take heart, beloved creatures!”,
Jesus says to humanity,
which has been battered
due to injustice and inequality,
and with those words restores
their hope and peace of mind.

“Take heart, slumbering church!”,
Jesus says to us, his disciples and followers
who have grown drowsy
due to habit and comfort,
and with that gesture he reminds us
that we are a people called
to speak words of encouragement,
to tear down walls of separation,
and to offer genuine solidarity
by breaking the chains of all oppression.

© Magdalena I. García
Permission granted for liturgical use with author credit. / Se concede permiso para uso litúrgico con crédito a la autora.