mass of remembrance monday, november 2nd at 7:30pmoct 18, 2020 · the commemoration of all the...

Church of the Nativity, Burke Virginia World Mission Sunday October 18, 2020

“Our Gospel did not come to you in word alone but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction.”

- 1 Thes 1-1:5

My dear parishioners,

through the Propagation of the Faith. Each of us are called to be missionaries. Today on Mission Sunday, in prayer and sacrifice, let us together answer that call. Love and blessings,

Fr. Bob Cilinski Pastor

A Message from our Pastor Fr. Bob Cilinski

ALL SAINTS DAY Sunday, November 1st

The Solemnity of All Saints is on Sunday, November 1st. The Mass schedule is as follows:

Saturday, October 31 Vigil Mass at 5:00PM

Sunday, November 1 7:00AM, 11:00AM and 5:30PM

ALL SOULS DAY Monday, November 2nd

The Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed

Each year All Souls Day is a day of special prayer for all those who have died. We pray that those souls in need of perfection may swiftly pass through their purification and

come into the presence of God.

It is the grace of the Communion of Saints that we can have this special relationship of prayer with those who have

departed this life. The Mass schedule is as follows:

7:30AM and 11:00AM - All Souls Mass

MASS OF REMEMBRANCE Monday, November 2nd at 7:30PM

One of our most beloved traditions at Nativity Church occurs every year during the month of November. This is the month when the whole Church remembers those who have passed from this world in hope of eternal life. At Nativity we celebrate a special Mass for those of our parish family who have died in the past year.

We wish to invite your family and friends to this special Eucharist.

This special Mass will take place on Monday, November 2nd at 7:30pm. Please know that you are in our prayers and in the prayers of the community of Nativity. Love and blessings, Fr. Bob Cilinski Pastor

“Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's.”

- MATTHEW 22:21

Everything we are and everything we have belongs to God. We aren't “owners” of anything, we are merely “stewards” of the gifts God has given each of us. All God is asking is that we give

back a portion of what He gave us. This is the essence of Stewardship. God should be our first priority in everything.

All else comes second, especially our money.


Bishop Burbidge to Lead Praise and Worship Holy Hour! Join us for a very special evening of prayer, praise and worship on Tuesday, October 20 at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church

in Fairfax from 7:30-8:30pm. We are honored to welcome Bishop Michael F. Burbidge as presider and homilist. Musical artist will be Michelle Jacobeen. Our special intention will be for the conversion and healing in families. Confession will be available. All are welcome so please bring a friend. To learn

more visit www.arlingtondiocese.org/healingandconversion/ or email [email protected].

Job Seeker Assistance Program Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington's Education and

Workforce Development program provides resources and connections with job mentoring volunteers to assist individuals in seeking employment, resources, and improved employment. Assistance with resume and cover letter writing, job searches,

interview practice, and job mentoring is provided. Contact [email protected] or call 571-208-1572 for more

program details.

DROP OFF YOUR WORN OUT FLAG Flag Retirement Ceremony

ALL PARISHIONERS are invited to join the Knights of Columbus for a patriotic ceremony. This is a great family event and families with children of all ages are welcome.

When: Thursday, 5 November | 7:30 pm Where: Holy Spirit School Gymnasium

Please contact John Ostrowski at [email protected] for more information.

Local scouts from both parishes will help retire the colors and we will honor local heroes. If you have a worn or soiled flag that needs to be retired, drop them off in the special collection boxes available

in the Narthex and the entry to Nativity School.

Love working with children? Want flexibility? Consider subbing for us ...

We are in need of substitute teachers with the following minimum qualifications:

2-plus years of college

Ability to follow a lesson plan and give effective instructions in the absence of the teacher

Proficiency in maintaining effective classroom management skills

Successful completion of Virtus training

Successful background check

Adherence to COVID-19 Safety Protocols

To apply, email Rich Godwin at [email protected], or call him at (703) 455-2300, ext.146. Thank you!

ST. LUCY PROJECT NEWS

There has been a large increase in the number of people who are experiencing food insecurity. For the period of March to June 2020, the St. Lucy Warehouse has distributed over 90% more food than it did the previous year. While need has increased, donations are down. Compared to last year, food drives are down by 23% and pounds collected are down by 28%. Donor fatigue has set in. Staff at the SLP have come up with ideas to help with food donations during this time, including, "No Contact Drive Thru" food collections and donating online using the Amazon Gift Wish List link: ccda.net/SLPAmazonWishList.

NEW Diocesan Padre Pio Hospital Ministry arlingtondiocese.org/hospitalministry/

The new Padre Pio Ministry to the Suffering, is an informal extension of the Hospital Ministry. Fr Starzynski saw a need to give hope and meaning to the suffering. Through redemptive suffering, people can use their suffering for the good of others and the Church. Part of the Padre Pio Ministry is the sharing of prayer folders, which contain a beautiful prayer booklet, prayer cards, and numerous other Diocesan resources.

To find out more, please visit the newly launched website: padrepioministry.org/

October is World Mission Month and the poor and vulnerable are more in need than ever before.

With both the pandemic and natural disasters hitting hard in 2020, the entire world is struggling. This is your opportunity

to generously give to those in desperate need of food, shelter, medical care, and hope! Will you answer the call to

give a life-changing gift to others?

A Mom's Peace Virtual Support Group Meeting You are invited to the third Virtual Support Meeting Saturday,

October 24th from 10:00 - 11:00am for Mothers of Miscarried and Stillborn Souls. The meeting will be led by Dr. Sabine Heisman and

the topic is "How to Talk to People About Miscarriage and Loss" during this miscarriage awareness month. Please take a

moment to register if you'd like to join us as spaces are limited. Click here to register: https://www.flipcause.com/secure/

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FATHER CEDRIC WILSON

October 27th


The Rosary Ministry invites you to join them in the recitation of the Holy Rosary via Zoom

on Sunday evenings at 7:30pm. Please email Brenda Zepf, [email protected]

for a Zoom invite. All are welcome!

“I would now like to say a special word to women who have had an abortion. The Church is aware of the many factors which may have influenced your decision, and she does not doubt that in many cases it was a painful and even shattering decision. The wound in your heart may not yet have healed. ...But do

not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope. ...The Father of mercies is ready to give you his forgiveness and his peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation” (EV 99). Pope Saint John Paul II, Excerpt from Evangelium Vitae © 1995, Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

The Falls Church 40 Days for Life campaign continues through Sunday, November 1, 2020. Nativity Parishioners of Faith and Conscience are encouraged to send a powerful message to the community and to the world that Christ is the answer to the intrinsically evil act of abortion. Meet, witness and pray at the Falls Church abortuary on Mondays from 9-10 AM Details at https://40daysforlife.com/fallschurch Become a "Prayer Warrior" and Stand Up For Life! For more info, please contact Rick Loffredo, 703-249-9492, [email protected].

Are you suffering from an abortion experience? PROJECT RACHEL offers spiritual and psychological healing. Call 703-276-0373 ([email protected]) for a referral for private, sensitive and confidential counseling and/or reconciliation. Project Rachel is a post-abortion healing program open to all and sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Arlington.

MASS INTENTIONS

"We are God's People" 1 Peter 2:10

Monday, October 19 7:30am † Cathleen Conway Del Polito

Tuesday, October 20 7:30am † Baby Watson 12:00pm † James & Anna McAnulty Sr.

Wednesday, October 21 7:30am † Thomas Green (Burke HC) 3:00pm † Adrian Carr

Thursday, October 22 7:30am † Apolonio Jose Concordia 12:00pm † Rex Bayani

Friday, October 23 7:30am † Gail Thompson Capolongo (School) 9:00am † Rex Bayani

Saturday, October 24 9:00am † Nora Fitzpatrick 5:00pm † David Begg 7:30pm Parishioners

Sunday, October 25

7:00am Parishioners

† Flordeliza Celebrado 11:00am † Anthony Ferrara † Herbert Edward Lane 5:30pm † Dell Rollins

The priest schedule for Masses is found on our webpage: https://nativityburke.org/calendar/

In prayer, let us remember the sick and deceased of the parish.

A message from The Nativity Creation Care Ministry

Enjoy the messy aspects of God’s creation in the fall and protect biodiversity. While there is satisfaction in cleaning up the yard and garden in the fall, many of God’s creatures would prefer that we left things a bit messier. Let your perennials stand till spring—the seed heads provide invaluable food for winter birds as do the insect larvae overwintering in hollow stems.

Leave the leaves where you can or rake them to the garden beds or mulch them with a mower to nourish your lawn. They provide places for bugs and birds to forage for food as well as habitat for small critters like salamanders, toads, worms and snails. If you have the space, build a brush pile of fallen branches—it will shelter birds and other creatures in bad weather and decompose over time. Plan to add your Christmas tree.

Avoid weed and feed mixture mania and fertilize your lawn with mulched leaf litter. Chemical fertilizing, killing weeds, watering, and mowing our lawns, and bagging grass clippings is expensive, time consuming and negatively impacts our air and water quality and local habitat. Consider more garden beds of native plants and grasses—fall is a great time to plant! Native plants support local birds, pollinators, and food webs--God's Creation. Learn more at plantnovanatives.org

Join us for our next virtual Zoom meeting on Thursday, October 22 at 8:00 pm. For details: [email protected].

Uplift Arlington Holy Hour: One Nation Under God Join Bishop Burbidge in prayer during a Holy Hour in person

at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More and via Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMwl3HpWRhs


The 2020 Altar Flower Book still has dates available. This is a thoughtful way to honor a loved one, living or deceased. Openings are available for October. If you are interested, please call 703-455-2400 or stop by the parish office to sign up.

https://nativityburke.org/knightscouncil7992/ Facebook: Knights of Columbus Father Sikora 7992

Twitter: @kofc7992

Join the Knights! Do you want to make a difference as a Catholic Gentleman? Then join the Knights of Columbus! Please contact DGK Br. Adrian Santillan-Lecaside or GK Barry Basselgia with any questions or if you need a form 100. If you want a quick easy alternative way to join the Knights, try Online Membership. It only takes 5-10 minutes. Just go to Go to https://www.kofc.org/ and click “Join” and put Council 7992 as your preferred Council. We’ll do the rest for you to make you a member of our Order and our Nativity Council! Council Meeting: Our regular business meetings are the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Meetings are conducted virtually via GoToMeeting. Name Tag Assistance: If you have not received a name tag, please provide your name so the Worthy Warden Tom Siepmann can place the order at: [email protected]. Handy Knights Ministry: Need a hand with minor home repairs or know someone who needs help? If you are unable to perform basic maintenance tasks or small repairs in your home due to health or other factors, there is a ministry within the Knights of Columbus that may be able to assist, the “Handy Knights.” You can reach us at the following email: [email protected]. Food For Others Food Recovery Ministry: Consider joining our ministry to recover food on Tuesdays between 11:00AM and 1:00PM from the Giant location on Burke Center Parkway and delivering it to Food For Others in Fairfax. We average 300-400 lbs of food picked up per week, but have seen loads over 900lbs. If you are interested contact me at [email protected]. Join Nativity’s Usher Ministry: Several weekend Masses at Nativity are in need of additional ushers. The greatest need is at the 9:00am, 12:45pm, and 5:30pm Masses on Sundays. Nativity offers an usher training program sponsored jointly by the Dio-cese and Nativity. If you are interested in joining the Usher Min-istry, please contact Br. Tom Wilder at [email protected]. Prison Ministry: Fr. Vaccaro is asking brother knights help in writing letters to those incarcerated. He has a list of names whose lives might be impacted for the better with your correspondence. Please contact him if interested. Stephen Ministry: Brothers, Father Bob has enlisted the parish council to assess the possibility of establishing a Stephen Minis-try in Nativity. This will be a parish program, and they are look-ing for volunteers from across the parish to join in this ministry. As Knights, our reputation for service precedes us, so Jim has asked that we canvass the council to see who can support as indi-vidual volunteers to serve as leaders and/or ministers. Contact parishioner Jim Crawford at [email protected].

Prime Time Single Catholics (PTSC) is a Washington-area social group serving single Catholics

40 and over. Let us serve you! Visit our website: bit.ly/ptsc; email us at [email protected]; or contact Barbara Myers at [email protected] or (703) 978-9618, or John McBride at

[email protected] or (703) 820-9196.

1 Million Hail Marys Challenge

Fr. Hayes wants us to continue our parish-wide prayer challenge. The goal of the One Million Hail Marys project is to offer 1,000,000 (or 100,000 decades of the Rosary). You could offer a Hail Mary while you’re brushing your teeth, making your coffee, driving to work, folding laundry, etc! Intentions: The special intention for these prayers is that Mary will protect us, our families, our country, and our world. We pray for the healing of wounds from past hurts and of those wounds that come from relationships with each other. We pray for Mary’s protection against the ways the Devil tries to hurt us (like the St. Michael the Archangel prayer). And anything else you need our Spiritual Mother to bring to her Son, Jesus Christ. To log in your challenges and for more information, please go to: https://nativityburke.org/hail-mary-challenge/

Hail Mary's Pledged as of 10/14/2020 980,673

Virtual JP5K & Fun Run, November 21 - 29

Come RUN with JP – Virtually! Register now and support the Special Services Programs at Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School. Join an existing team, create a new team, become a fundraiser, or make a donation. Participants receive a JP5K 2020 t-shirt and electronic race bib. It’s VIRTUAL! A virtual run/walk can be completed anytime and anywhere beginning Saturday, November 21st through Sunday, November 29th 2020. Then submit your time to the JP5K website. (Submit pictures too and challenge others to sign-up!)

To sign up: https://runsignup.com/Race/VA/Dumfries/JP5KRunWalkforOptions

CATHOLIC CHARITIES CROPS GLEANING

Please help Catholic Charities feed the hungry by volunteering to glean crops on a One Day Mission trip to the northern neck of Virginia. “Gleaning” is the traditional biblical practice of gathering crops that would otherwise be left to rot in the fields or be plowed under after harvest.

The freshly gleaned produce will be transported back to Catholic Charities' St. Lucy Project Food Warehouse and given to those in need. The last 2020 trip will be offered on Novem-ber 7th, it is a great service project for church groups, families, book clubs and confirmation students (with parental supervi-sion).

To sign up for a trip, visit https://tinyurl.com farmglean-ing2020. For more information, please contact Commissioned by Christ Farm Gleaning Mission Trip Volunteer Coordinator, Tom Pedagno at [email protected].


October 18, 2020 World Mission Sunday

On October 18, the Church celebrates the annual World Mission Sunday for the Missions and missionaries around the world. Proceeds from this second collection, administered by the Pontifical Mission Societies, help support the merciful work of local churches in Asia, Africa, the Pacific Islands, Latin America, and parts of Europe. Please be generous, thank you!

Here am I, send me (Is 6:8) Pope Francis: Message for World Mission Day 2020

In this year marked by the suffering and challenges created by the Covid-19 pandemic, the missionary journey of the whole Church continues in light of the words found in the account of the calling of the prophet Isaiah: “Here am I, send me” (6:8). This is the ever new response to the Lord’s question: “Whom shall I send?.”

This invitation from God’s merciful heart challenges both the Church and humanity as a whole in the current world crisis. “Like the disciples in the Gospel we were caught off guard by an unexpected, turbulent storm. We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and needed, all of us called to row together, each of us in need of com-forting the other. On this boat… are all of us. Just like those disciples, who spoke anxiously with one voice, saying ‘We are perish-ing’ (v. 38), so we too have realized that we cannot go on thinking of ourselves, but only together can we do this” (Meditation in Saint Peter’s Square, 27 March 2020).

We are indeed frightened, disoriented and afraid. Pain and death make us experience our human frailty, but at the same time remind us of our deep desire for life and liberation from evil. In this context, the call to mission, the invitation to step out of ourselves for love of God and neighbor presents itself as an opportunity for sharing, service and intercessory prayer.

The mission that God entrusts to each one of us leads us from fear and introspection to a renewed realization that we find ourselves precisely when we give ourselves to others.


DRIVE THRU


ADULTS—YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF A YOUNG PERSON

YOU can make a difference in the life of a young person - leading them closer to Christ. College-Age, Young Adults, Parents, Grandparents, Retirees ...all are welcome to share the Catholic faith! Contact Ms. Ingrid to inquire how YOU can make a difference.

Follow Us nat ivi tycym

Nativity Youth Ministry

Get the Weekly CYM UPdate! Via FlockNote

High School: nativityburke.org/cym/lifeteen/ Grades 5-8 nativityburke.org/cym/edge/

nativityschool.org

NATIVITY CATHOLIC SCHOOL A Blue Ribbon School of Excellence

Nativity’s Fifth Annual Golf Tournament -- Round Well-Played

It was a perfect day for golf and Father Bob and a team of new and returning players from both the school and parish played through a morning filled with fun, fellowship and

fresh air.

________________________________________________ A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to those players who joined us for the day to play 18 holes. It was great fun! We are also

very grateful to those members of the Nativity church and school staff who helped make this event possible.

We couldn’t have done it without you.

Serving students in Grades 5 thru 12 in a

variety of teen groupings

For Complete Information Visit the Nativity Website

Starting September 2020 - All gatherings will take place bi-week outside in the fresh air

• All Groups meet from 5:00pm - 6:30pm

• Masks required - Bring a Camp Chair

• Parent involvement is requested to support this ministry during COVID-19

EDGE is middle school ministry Grades 5, 6, 7, 8 LifeTEEN is high school ministry Grades 9-10-11-12

Bi-Weekly Mon EDGE Grades 5 & 6 5:00-6:30pm Tues EDGE Grades 7 & 8 5:00-6:30pm

Wed LifeTEEN Grade 9 5:00-6:30pm Thur LifeTEEN Grades 10-11-12 5:00-6:30pm

YM Meeting Calendar Visit parish the web site - Youth and Family LifeTEEN or EDGE - YM Calendar

No Drop-Ins | SignUp Required Visit Web Site to get on the CYM Flocknote for

Updates, SignUp and Gathering Reminders

http://www.nativityburke.org/nativityschool/


SIN VIVIR AL MARGEN

Domingo XXIX Javier Leoz

Donde no llega la razón, llega el corazón. Donde no lle-

gues tú, llegaré yo. Y, cuando leo estas letras, me preguntó por qué a veces es tan difícil combinar fe e ideas, política y religión, el cielo con la tierra, lo humano con lo divino. ¿Hasta dónde puede llegar la fe? ¿Hasta dónde pretenden llegar aquellos que solamente juzgan y se rigen por la razón o la ideología de la que, siempre, queda alguien al margen?

1.Cuántas situaciones de injusticia se evitarían si, por ejemplo, la moral iluminase ciertas actuaciones que las damos como insignes conquistas del mundo moderno cuando, a la corta o a la larga, comprobaremos que son decadencia ¿Es intromisión denunciar que la humanidad, en más de una ocasión, se autodestru-ye cuando legisla en contra de la dignidad del propio ser humano?

-Dar al César, lo que es del César, no siempre implica quedarse al margen de aquello que consideramos negativo para un progreso bien entendido. ¿No sería más bien cobardía o falta de valentía a la hora de defender unos criterios que consideramos válidos, esenciales e irrenunciables para nuestro futuro?

-Dar al César, lo que es del César, no es decir “amén” a todo lo que el poder establecido nos mete hasta los tuétanos y, normalmente, en contra de los más desfavorecidos.

-Dar al César, lo que es el César, es saber que, la Iglesia, no es una institución política –ni mucho menos- pero que no puede ni debe vivir al margen de lo que gime en su interior: su ser profé-tico que le empuja a denunciar cuando se rebasan ciertos límites, y a anunciar que, la última instancia a la que debemos someternos, es precisamente Dios.

2. Ser buen cristiano no significa vivir divorciados de las instancias donde se cuecen los destinos del mundo. Hoy hay diver-sas corrientes en las que se proclama aquello de “la Iglesia en la sacristía” “la fe es un ámbito privado” “en la calle hay que ser ciu-dadano, no cristiano”.

Ante estas soflamas no cabe sino, recordar, que la fe es un derecho público y privado, personal y comunitario, social y no marginal. Como personas, hemos de ejercer libremente nuestro ideario cristiano sin miedo a ser tachados de entrometidos. Qué gran perjuicio, para el Evangelio, para la Iglesia y para la sociedad misma, si –nuestro cristianismo- lo redujéramos a ser eso: buenos ciudadanos. No nos hemos bautizados para ser los necios del mun-do. Más bien al contrario; nuestro bautismo nos empuja a salar aquellas situaciones que requieren un punto de verdad o de ilusión, de alegría o de justicia, de dignidad o de equidad. Pero ¿qué ocurre cuando la Iglesia hace, dice o evidencia todo esto? Que escuece y se pretende silenciarla. Nunca, un paciente que se acerque a un médico, le criticará por el hecho de que estudie, cure y sane sus heridas. Al contrario, aunque le duela, sabe que en ello se le va la vida.

Aquí está el término medio. La sociedad tiene sus propias normas pero, sus legisladores, no son perfectos y por lo tanto tam-poco muchas de las cosas que dicen, hacen o estampan en cuño de ley. Y, cuando la Iglesia alerta de ciertos excesos no es por intru-sión (ni mucho menos) sino porque, en la herida, se puede desan-grar el futuro de una sociedad caprichosa, hedonista donde vence el fuerte, sufre el pobre y el “césar” (por sus deliberaciones o ac-tuaciones) se marcha de su palacio ajeno al sufrimiento producido en su pueblo.

¿Difícil papeleta el saber hasta dónde entramos unos y hasta donde han de entrar otros? Tal vez. Lo que nunca debemos hacer como cristianos es eso….conformarnos con ser buenos vecinos. En todo caso intentar por encima de todo ser buenos cristianos. Aunque a más de uno le duela. ¡Qué se va hacer! ¡O somos cristianos o no lo somos! Hoy celebramos el día del DOMUND (la jornada mundial de la propagación de la fe). Ojala que su lema “RENACE LA ALEGRÍA” sea una llamada a que, desde el ámbito en el cual cada uno nos encontramos, sepamos también comprometernos de cerca o de lejos con aquellos que se encuentran –en primera línea- dando la cara por los más pobres pero, sobre todo, anun-ciando al POBRE de los pobres que es Cristo. Sólo así, al atar-decer de la vida, seremos capaces de cerrar los ojos con la sa-tisfacción de haber hecho renacer la alegría de la fe en diferen-tes puntos de nuestra tierra. Que Santa Teresa de Jesús, cuyo Año Jubilar hemos iniciado por el quinto centenario de su na-cimiento, nos ayude también a ser eternos andariegos por los caminos del mundo con el báculo de la vida cristiana contem-plativa, activa y más comprometida.

¿CESAR…..O TU, SEÑOR? Cuando confundo lo divino con lo humano,

y me quedo sólo con lo segundo Cuando, volcado de lleno en lo superficial,

olvido que Tú existes desde los mismos inicios de mis dias Cuando, escuchando tu Palabra,

me quedo con aquellas escritas por el presente Entonces, Señor, sólo entonces

me doy cuenta…que sirvo demasiado al “césar” de este mundo. Cuando pretendo una iglesia desarraigada y no profética

alejada de todo compromiso. ¿CÉSAR…..O TU SEÑOR?

Cuando dedicado al intercambio de moneda no veo que, la mayor, riqueza soy yo:

como persona y como hijo tuyo como llamado a la vida y a la gracia

a la santidad, a la sencillez y a la adoración en tu presencia Cuando, pendiente de lo que acontece a mi alrededor

te doy las migajas de unos minutos de oración o las prisas de una misa rutinaria Cuando, soñando con ser grande

dejo de lado aquel cielo en el que, para entrar, he de ser peque-ño

¿CÉSAR….O TU SEÑOR? Que no me olvide, oh Señor, que Tú eres el centro de todo Que no me olvide, Señor, de orientarme desde Ti y contigo

Que no me olvide, Señor, que –el cielo y la tierra- son todo obra de tu mano Que no me olvide, Señor,

que entre los “césares” que intentan manipular mi conciencia sólo Tú, Señor, tienes derecho a entrar en ella.

Amén. Javier Leoz


Nuestra lucha con las riquezas

Ron Rolheiser (Trad. Benjamín Elcano, cmf) Hace algunos años asistí a un funeral. El hombre al que estábamos despidiendo había gozado de una vida plena y rica. Había llegado a la edad de 90 años y era respetado por haber sido a la vez dichoso y honrado. Pero había sido siempre un hombre fuerte, un líder natural, un hombre que se había hecho cargo de las cosas. Había tenido un buen matrimonio, formado una gran familia, logrado éxito en los negocios y mantenido papeles de liderazgo en varias organizaciones cívicas y eclesiales. Era un hombre que infundía respeto, aunque a veces era temido por su fuerza. Su hijo, sacerdote, estaba presidiendo su funeral. Empezó su homilía de esta manera: “La Escritura nos dice que setenta es la suma de los años de un hombre, y ochenta la suma de los más robustos. Ahora bien, nuestro padre vivió noventa. ¿Por qué esos diez años de más? Bueno, de hecho, eso no es un misterio. ¡Dios le concedió esos diez años adicionales para madurarlo! ¡Era demasiado fuerte e inquieto para morir a los ochenta! Pero durante los últimos diez años de su vida sufrió una serie de masivos empeoramientos. Murió su esposa; nunca superó eso. Tuvo un ataque repentino; nunca lo superó. Tuvo que ser llevado a un centro de vida asistida; nunca lo superó. Todos estos condicionamientos hicieron su trabajo. Para cuando murió, pudo tomar tu mano y decir: ‘Ayúdame’. No pudo decir eso desde el momento en que pudo atar los cordones de sus pro-pios zapatos hasta esos últimos años. Estuvo por fin dispuesto para el cielo. Ahora bien, cuando se encontró con san Pedro a las puer-tas del cielo, pudo decir: ‘¡Ayúdame!’, más bien que decir a san Pedro cómo podría organizar las cosas mejor”. Esta historia nos puede ayudar a entender la enseñanza de Jesús de que los ricos encuentran difícil entrar en el reino de los cielos, mientras los niños pequeños entran con tanta naturalidad. Tendemos a comprender mal ambas cosas: por qué los ricos encuentran difícil entrar en el reino y por qué los niños pequeños entran más fácilmente. ¿Por qué los niños pequeños entran en el reino tan naturalmente? Al responder a esto, tendemos a idealizar la inocencia de los niños pequeños, que puede verdaderamente estar golpeándonos. Pero eso no es lo que Jesús está apoyando como un ideal aquí, un ideal de inocencia que para nosotros, adultos, es imposible en cualquier caso. No es la inocencia de los niños lo que Jesús alaba; más bien es el hecho de que los niños no tienen la menor pretensión de autosuficiencia. Los niños no tienen otra opción que conocer su dependencia. No son autosuficientes, y saben que no pueden tomar medidas en vez de otros. Si nadie los alimenta, van hambrientos. Necesitan decir, y decirlo con frecuencia: “¡Ayúdame!”. Generalmente, para los adultos es lo contrario, especialmente si somos fuertes, talentosos y bendecidos con suficiente riqueza. Fácil-mente alimentamos la ilusión de la autosuficiencia. En nuestra fortaleza, olvidamos más naturalmente que necesitamos a otros, que no somos autosuficientes. La lección que vemos aquí no es que las riquezas sean malas. Las riquezas, como el dinero, el talento, la inteligencia, la salud, el buen aspecto, la habilidad para el liderazgo o la fuerza plana, son dones recibidos de Dios. Y son buenos. No son las riquezas lo que nos impide entrar en el reino. Más bien es el peligro de que, poseyéndolas, tendremos también más fácilmente la ilusión de que somos auto-suficientes. Y no lo somos. Como Tomás de Aquino señala de la misma manera que define a Dios (como Esse Subsistens - Ser Sufi-ciente en sí mismo), sólo Dios no necesita de alguien o algo más. Todos los demás tenemos esa necesidad, y los niños pequeños cap-tan esto mejor que los adultos, especialmente los adultos fuertes y talentosos. Además, la ilusión de la autosuficiencia genera otro peligro. Las riquezas y el confort que traen, como vemos en la parábola del rico que tiene un mendigo a su puerta, nos puede hacer ciegos a la situación y hambre de los pobres. Ese es uno de los peligros de no pasar hambre nosotros. En nuestro confort, tendemos a no ver a los pobres. Y así, no son las riquezas en sí mismas las que son malas. El peligro moral de ser rico es más bien la ilusión de autosuficiencia que parece acompañar por siempre a las riquezas. Los niños pequeños no sufren esta ilusión, sino los fuertes. Ese es el peligro de ser rico, rico en dinero u rico en otras cosas. ¿Cómo minimizamos ese peligro? Siendo generosos con nuestras riquezas. El Evangelio de Lucas, aun siendo el Evangelio más duro para con los ricos, es también el Evangelio que más claramente muestra que las riquezas no son malas en sí mismas. Dios es rico. Pero Dios es enormemente generoso con esa riqueza. La generosidad de Dios, como aprendemos de las parábolas de Jesús, es tan excesi-va que resulta escandalosa. Da un vuelco a nuestro medido sentido de equidad. Las riquezas son buenas, pero sólo si son compartidas. En el Evangelio de Lucas, Jesús alaba al rico generoso pero avisa al rico que acapara. La generosidad es propia de Dios; el acaparamiento es antitético al cielo. Y así, desde que aprendemos a atarnos los lazos de nuestro propio calzado hasta que los varios debilitamientos de la vida empiezan a despojarnos de la ilusión de autosuficiencia, las riquezas de todo tipo constituyen un peligro. Nunca debemos olvidar la petición: “¡Ayúdame!”

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