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.
