\u00a0Like many, I will never forget the devastation\u00a0felt when I heard of the martyrdom of Archbishop Romero of El Salvador in 1980. Although we were at the other end of Latin America, the reverberations rang loudly: another outstanding Christian leader shot down by murderous state powers. These were the years of state sanctioned terror, disappearance, brutal savagery\u00a0and murder.<\/p>\n
The homily given at the Mass in the chapel of the Divine Providence cancer hospital in San Salvador where he was assassinated,\u00a0was based on John 12:23-26. It said in part,<\/p>\n
you have just heard in Christ\u2019s gospel that one must not love oneself so much as to avoid getting involved in the risks of life that history demands of us, and that those who try to fend off the danger will lose their lives, while those who out of love for Christ give themselves to the service of others, will live, live like the grain of wheat that dies, but only apparently. If it did not die, it would remain alone. The harvest comes about only because it dies, allowing itself to be sacrificed in the earth and destroyed. Only by undoing itself does it produce the harvest.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The full Final Homily of Archbishop Romero<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Also an interesting sermon by\u00a0the Archbishop of Canterbury<\/a>\u00a0based on Romero’s ‘sentir con la iglesia’: ‘his feelings and compassion with the church’.<\/p>\n
Much more information is available at the Archbishop Romero Trust<\/a>: Oscar Romero was a priest and bishop in El Salvador. His love for his people who were suffering violence and oppression led him to take their side and to denounce their oppressors. And so he was killed, whilst saying Mass, on 24th March 1980. The website makes available\u00a0materials on Archbishop Romero\u2019s life and martyrdom. In praying about mission, I have found good grist for forming my prayers in\u00a0the prayer attributed to him<\/a>,<\/p>\n
THE LONG VIEW\u00a0\u00a0 –\u00a0 <\/strong>A Prayer by Archbishop Oscar Romero<\/em><\/p>\n
<\/em>
\nIt helps, now and then, to step back and take the long view.
\nThe Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
\nIt is even beyond our vision.
\nWe accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of
\nThe magnificent enterprise that is God\u2019s work.
\nNothing we do is complete,
\nWhich is another way of saying that
\nThe Kingdom always lies beyond us.<\/p>\nNo statement says all that should be said.
\nNo prayer fully expresses our faith.
\nNo confession brings perfection,
\nNo pastoral visit brings wholeness.
\nNo program accomplishes the church\u2019s mission.
\nNo set of goals and objectives includes everything.<\/p>\nThis is what we are about.
\nWe plant the seeds that one day will grow.
\nWe water seeds already planted,
\nKnowing that they hold future promise.
\nWe lay foundations that will need further development.
\nWe provide yeast that produces effects far beyond our capabilities.<\/p>\nWe cannot do everything,
\nAnd there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.
\nThis enables us to do something,
\nAnd to do it very well.
\nIt may be incomplete,
\nBut it is a beginning,
\nA step along the way,
\nAn opportunity for the Lord\u2019s grace to enter
\nAnd do the rest.<\/p>\nWe may never see the end results,
\nBut that is the difference
\nBetween the master builder and the worker.<\/p>\nWe are workers, not master builders,
\nMinisters, not messiahs.
\nWe are prophets of a future that is not our own.<\/p>\nAmen.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
See also my Easter message: Healing through forgiveness<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0Like many, I will never forget the devastation\u00a0felt when I heard of the martyrdom of Archbishop Romero of El Salvador in 1980. Although we were at the other end of Latin America, the reverberations rang loudly: another outstanding Christian leader … Continue reading