The Least Of These

Oscar Romero who was the archbishop of El Salvador, was assassinated while presiding at a memorial Mass in the Carmelite chapel of a Hospital on March 24, 1980. The archbishop was standing behind the altar, preparing the gifts at the offertory, when two mercenaries approached the chapel and fired a single shot from a military assault rifle. The archbishop died within minutes from shock and blood loss. He was source of hope for millions of oppressed and impoverished Salvadorians, and was seen as the greatest threat to the greed and arrogance of the oligarchy of 14 families that ruled El Salvador as if it were their own. Archbishop Romero was known to say the truth, and to say it loud and clear. He often said: “The word of God is like the light of the sun. It illuminates beautiful things, but also things which we would rather not see.” This got me thinking... What is it that happens in our communities that we would rather not see? Perhaps most of these may not end up with a 911 call, and people suffer silently. What are those cries of hunger/domestic violence/loss in our neighborhoods that have reached God’s ears and that we have not heard, or perhaps closed our ears to it because it’s annoying to us? The word of God in Ezekiel is an impeachment of the Shepherds of Israel [I am paraphrasing]: “You have not done what I have asked you to do. Now look at the suffering of my sheep!” God decided to assume the role of the true Shepherd, to care for his flock, binding up the broken, and strengthening the sick. That was in the Old Teastament. Today, we are in Jesus’ reign, and it means that as his followers, we are to act with every fiber of our being to set up God’s reign here with us. Will Christ be seen in us? Or it’s business as usual? God's purpose is to establish order in the chaos/ light in our darkness. In our baptismal covenant, we are asked: “Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?” I will, with God’s help. “Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?” I will with God’s help. The archbishop Romero was concerned about the poor who were taken advantage of, by the country’ rulers and ended up losing his life over it. Following Jesus means we do the right thing because the character of Christ lives in us. We need God’s help to care like God cares, the truth is that we are into our own self-preservation and think we have no room for caring for a world beyond our own immediate surroundings. It’s the safest way indeed. Yet that’s not what Jesus is calling us to. We are in danger of living like Israel’s shepherds, if we live only for our own self-preservation and not care about justice. Jesus says that if we fail to care for those caught up in the evil systems of our world, we would have failed to help him. (In Congo DRC, young children work in the mines so that we can use these cellphones. We are to remember their sweat, and the injustice of it all, each time we use our phones.) Listen to Jesus' words: “Just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” There will be accountability on the last day of judgment! Take heart though, with God’s light, true believers will go out of their way beyond church boundaries to bring God’s Kingdom of peace and justice there. In some places, like my former native home, seeking justice can cost you your life. God help us not to be intimidated and be as courageous as Archbishop Romero. Jesus is calling us to action: for some it will be to set up a shelter for the homeless (regardless of the politics of the day), and for others to give clothing to the naked, to identify with the sick and the prisoner. People in need come to us in different shape and size. (1) Some are found in our foster care system, overworked, understaffed, uncared for, unappreciated. Also, (2) lack of enough care for the elderly; (3) international wars! A problem that often creates other kinds of problems like a tsunami of orphans without care. Those tears are slowly rising to God almighty! Whatever we do towards alleviating or bringing relief, we are setting up God’s reign amongst us in real life. We often pray “Thy Kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven!” It means: “With your help O Lord Christ, let your character be seen in our people/ in our community.” The sufferer is already desperate to meet Christ’s compassion in us. Maranatha Come Lord Jesus! Help us to be doers of your word, instead of just speakers. Amen