“Love instead of fear” / “Amor en vez de temor”

A litany based on Matthew 25:31-46

Painting on the window of 016, a Serbian-American restaurant on the southeast corner of Lincoln and Carmen avenues, in Chicago. / Pintura en la ventana del restaurante serbio-americano 016, en la esquina sureste de las avenidas Lincoln y Carmen, en Chicago.

by Magdalena I. García

The problem is not that the parable’s king,
after an ethical balance and acting as final judge,
dared separate the sheep from the goats.
The problem is that believers every day,
though hurtful jokes and colossal prejudice,
go on classifying people on the basis of their appearance.

The problem is not that the parable’s king
distributed goods on the basis of unexpected criteria,
seeking to reward kindness and compassion.
The problem is that believers every day
distribute goods on the basis of desired returns,
seeking to favor their own interests and investments.

The problem is not that the parable’s king
has his eye on the sparrow or is excessively sensitive
in the face of human suffering that refuses to go away.
The problem is that believers every day
have their eye on riches and are extremely insensitive
in the face of human suffering that we refuse to address.

The problem is not that the parable’s king
insists that we are saved by love rather than fear
and closely connects belief and action.
The problem is that believers every day
insist on carelessly trampling on neighbors and creation
and disconnect their confessions from their behavior.

The problem is not that the parable’s king
threatens with eternal fire those who act maliciously
and condemns those who are uncaring by calling them “accursed.”
The problem is that believers every day
threaten the earth and life with their accursed avarice
and condemn “the least of these” to poverty and misery.
 

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“Amor en vez de temor”

Una letanía basada en Mateo 25:31-46

por Magdalena I. García

El problema no es que el rey de la parábola,
haciendo balance ético y actuando como juez final,
las ovejas y los cabritos se atreviera a separar.
El problema es que les creyentes a diario,
haciendo bromas hirientes y actuando con prejuicio descomunal,
a la gente por su apariencia insistimos en clasificar.

El problema no es que el rey de la parábola
reparta sus bienes en base a criterios inesperados,
procurando la amabilidad y la compasión reconocer.
El problema es que les creyentes a diario
repartimos los bienes en base al rendimiento deseado,
procurando nuestros propios intereses e inversiones favorecer.

El problema no es que el rey de la parábola
ponga la vista en los gorriones y sea demasiado sensible
ante el sufrimiento humano que se niega a desaparecer.
El problema es que les creyentes a diario
ponemos la vista en la riqueza y somos demasiado insensibles
ante el sufrimiento humano que nos negamos a compadecer.

El problema no es que el rey de la parábola
insista en que nos salva el amor en vez del temor
y conecte estrechamente el creer con el actuar.
El problema es que les creyentes a diario
insistimos en pisotear al prójimo y la creación con desamor
y desconectamos lo que confesamos de la manera de obrar.

El problema no es que el rey de la parábola
amenace con el fuego eterno a quienes actúan con malicia
y condene a los indiferentes tildándolos de “malditos”.
El problema es que les creyentes a diario
amenazamos la tierra y la vida con nuestra maldita avaricia
y condenamos a la pobreza y la miseria a los “pequeñitos”.

© Magdalena I. García