Bishop Francisco Garmendia’s Homily on Happy Land

HAPPY-LAND WAS THE NAME.

IT WAS A LAND OF FEASTS, PARTIES, AND THE CELEBRATION OF THE JOYS AND PLEASURES OF THIS WORLD.  IT WAS A LAND WHERE THE BONDS AMONG FRIENDS WERE REAFFIRMED. THE FRIENDS CAME FROM OTHER LANDS WHICH WERE SEEMINGLY LESS HAPPY TO THIS COUNTRY OF OPPORTUNITIES IN PURSUIT OF FREEDOM AND, YES, HAPPINESS.

NOW ONLY SMOKE, ASHES, AND SORROW REMAIN OF WHAT WAS AN EXPRESSION OF THE HOPE FOR A LIFE OF WELL-BEING AND PROGRESS IN OUR COUNTRY.

HAPPY-LAND

AN IRRATIONAL PASSION SET ABLAZE THE HOPES OF 87 INNOCENT LIVES EXPOSING THE CONTRADICTIONS, IRRESPONSIBILITY AND NEGLIGENCE OF PUBLIC AUTHORITIES AND PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS, WHICH PERMITTED THE UNSAFE OPERATION OF THIS ESTABLISHMENT.

HAPPY-LAND

ITS RUINS REMAIN A PERMANENT INDICTMENT OF THE CONTRADICTIONS IN OUR SOCIETY.

HAPPY-LAND

A LITTLE BOY SPEAKING WITH ME RECENTLY SAID: BISHOP, THAT WAS NOT HAPPY-LAND.  IT IS NOW THAT THEY ARE IN THE HAPPY-LAND OF HEAVEN, IN THE COMPANY OF THE LORD.

THIS LAST MONTH WE HAVE FELT THE FLAMES OF INCOMPREHENSION AND DESPERATION/AWAKEN US TO THE REALITIES OF POVERTY, SOCIAL DETERIORATION, HOPELESSNESS, NEGLIGENCE AND IRRESPONSIBILITY. BUT FROM WITHIN THE ASHES OF THIS TRAGIC REALITY WE HAVE SEEN THE RE-KINDLING OF THE HOPE WHICH CHRIST GIVES TO US IN THE PROMISE OF RESURRECTION, AND A LIFE EVER-LASTING.

WE HAVE WITNESSED A COMMUNITY UNITED IN HOPE AND LOVE, COALESCING/ COMING TOGETHER TO EXPRESS THEIR FULL SOLIDARITY WITH THE SUFFERING OF VICTIMS, THEIR RELATIVES, AND FRIENDS.

MAY THE LORD GUIDE US TO TURN THE FLAMES THAT DESTROYED THESE INNOCENT LIVES INTO FLAMES OF HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE.

MAY THIS TRAGEDY IGNITE THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF OUR POLITICAL AND COMMUNITY LEADERS; CONCERNING THE NEED TO TAKE CONCERTED ACTION IN PURSUIT OF PRESERVING THE LIVES OF OUR CITIZENS, PROVIDING SAFER GROUNDS FOR WHOLESOME ACTIVITIES AND THE ENJOYMENT OF OUR YOUTH.

MAY THIS FIRE BURN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY TO ATTEND TO THE REALITIES OF A COMMUNITY WHICH IS ALREADY BEING DESTROYED BY POVERTY, CRIME, DRUG-ABUSE, HOPELESSNESS, AND INDIFFERENCE.

LET US NOT BURY THE PROBLEMS WHICH THE HAPPY-LAND TRAGEDY UNVEILED WITH ITS INNOCENT VICTIMS.

MAY WE FIND IN THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION CONSOLATION FOR OUR ACHING AND GRIEVING HEARTS, AND THE RESOLVE TO PURSUE A COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL JUSTICE, ENFORCEMENT OF OUR LAWS, PROTECTION OF LIVES, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SAFE AND HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO SEEK HAPPINESS AND MEANING IN THEIR LIVES.

SU EXCELENCIA EL CARDENAL O’CONNOR,  SR. PRESIDENTE DE LA REPÚBLICA DE HONDURAS, EXCELENTÍSIMO RAFAEL LEONARDO CALLEJAS Y ESCELENTISIMA

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