Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Today we remember St. Oscar Romero, archbishop of San Salvador and martyr who was assassinated while celebrating Eucharist on March 24, 1980. He was a voice for justice and peace in El Salvador, calling for mercy and reconciliation in a time of conflict. He was killed because he refused to side with the government, and combined charity and compassion for the poor of El Salvador with a passion for justice. Like Jesus, he challenged both religious authorities (fellow Bishops) and the world and continued to speak the truth, knowing this could cost him his life. He gave hope to the people over radio broadcasts, reminding them that they were the church and called to be prophets. Days before he died, Archbishop Romero told a reporter, “You can tell the people that if they succeed in killing me, that I forgive and bless those who do it. Hopefully, they will realize they are wasting their time. A bishop will die, but the church of God, which is the people, will never perish.” In a country of only 5.5 million - over 75,00 Salvadorans would be killed, one million would flee the country, another million left homeless, constantly on the run from the army.
Oscar Romero was not always so brave and radical. When elected Bishop, he was viewed as quiet, politically moderate and bookish. Yet, his heart was deeply moved after experiencing a funeral of a murdered peasant and child, and stood with the poor ever after. His steadfastness in the face of adversity and solidarity with the disadvantaged mirrors the misunderstood Jesus of our Lenten readings who senses his road to death.
We are invited to reflect on our own journeys of solidarity and truth telling in our place and time. Bishop Seitz issued a pastoral letter on Mass Detention and Mass Deportations in El Paso, Texas https://www.elpasodiocese.org/
Will we, like those journeying with Moses in the first reading, be open to God’s conversion of our impatient, tired and fearful hearts? Will we turn from our grumbling and dare to speak truth to power? Dare to confess our sins and experience God’s healing power? May we trust that God is with us and never leaves us alone. Saint Oscar Romero, and all the unnamed faithful who have been murdered, pray for our courage, faith and perseverance in the journey of justice and solidarity.
Inspiring biographical information, quotations and prayers by St. Oscar Romero are found here: https://uscatholic.org/
—Sr. Leanne Jablonski, FMI (Marianist Sister)