OSCAR  ROMERO 

HAVING  CONVICTIONS  AND

HAVING  COURAGE 

The title of my sermon for today is, “Oscar Romero: Having Convictions and Having Courage.”

Today, March 24, 1980, in the evening, Bishop Oscar Romero was shot saying Mass in a San Salvador Carmelite sister’s chapel – part of a clinic cancer ward where he lived.

It was a funeral Mass for Dona Sarita, the mother of a friend – also connected to an Independent newspaper.

In our life time we might see the beatification as well as the sanctification of Oscar Romero.

Thanks to Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict,  the cause for Oscar Romero has advanced. And Pope Francis stresses how he sees Romero as a prime inspiration in his life.

If you saw the movie Romero or read anything about his life, what’s your take and what’s your inspiration from his life?

To me the main message would be to have the courage of our convictions.

When made archbishop of San Salvador, the rich and those on the right were very happy. Oscar Romero didn’t rock any boats – so those with power were happy – especially the upper military.

He began to rethink everything – especially after a friend Rutillo Grande – a priest was murdered – then others, then others.

He started to name names – on the radio – of those who killing the poor, catechists, nuns, those who spoke up and spoke out.

To me – a country like ours – is sometimes a beacon on a hill or a light on the mountain.

However, some of our behaviors make me ashamed of our country. A country like ours that started as a revolt against taxation and freedom – didn’t side with the poor of El Salvador and Nicaragua, etc. A country like ours that almost split in half over freedom for blacks who were slaves – etc. etc. etc. didn’t back the poor and the colored of South and Central America.

He wrote a letter to Jimmy Carter, president of the United States about not sending money to arm the military in San Salvador even more.  He was against  the School of the Americas – here in the U.S. at Fort Benning, Georgia – where many of assassins of so many people in South America were trained. Check School of Americas in Google for more information about what I’m getting at.

After his change, Romero became a marked man. 

Questions are out there now – whether he was killed because of political reasons or religious reasons.  This brings us to the issue of faith and justice.

I know priests who spoke up on these issues could be blackballed and snubbed.

I know that there are those in the Vatican who are not happy with Oscar Romero and his cause – in becoming named a saint and a martyr.

Pope Francis told his opinion when he declared Oscar Romero a martyr this February3, 2015

I’ve always heard that the money is to the right. There are life issues that some people don’t back and withdraw their money.

There are many ways to read the scriptures – to be challenged or as W. C. Fields said when seen reading the Bible – looking for loopholes, just looking for loopholes.

Today is the day Oscar Romero was shot in the heart – right at the consecration of the Mass.

I often wonder what are the issues I’m called to speak up and out about.

I like to be liked and I rather have paper in front of me that is smooth and not abrasive – like sandpaper. Here we are in Lent and it ends with Jesus being executed for speaking up – where do I need to be challenged? That’s what the life of Oscar Romero says to me so far.