Romero's Wisdom
Honoring the prophetic witness of Archbishop Oscar Romero to the churches of the Americas on the anniversary of his martyrdom in El Salvador, March 24.
A church that suffers no persecution but enjoys the privileges and support of the things of the earth - beware! - is not the true church of Jesus Christ. A preaching that does not point out sin is not the preaching of the gospel. A preaching that makes sinners feel good, so that they are secured in their sinful state, betrays the gospel's call. (1/22/78).
God of justice, we repent the sin of our church when it fails to denounce injustice in our world and to call its people to repentance and conversion.
When the church hears the cry of the oppressed it cannot but denounce the social structures that give rise to and perpetuate the misery from which the cry arises (8/6/78).
God of the prophets, we pray for ourselves and our church that we might become prophets of justice and life to our world.
The church would betray its own love for God and its fidelity to the gospel if it stopped being . . . a defender of the nights of the poor . . . a humanizer of every legitimate struggle to achieve a more just society . . . that prepares the way for the true reign of God in history (8/6/79).
God of love, may we and our church become tools in your hands to help prepare the way for your reign in history. Amen.