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15/08/2017
A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Julian Filochowski, Chair of the Archbishop Romero Trust.
Last on
Tue 15 Aug 2017
05:43
大象传媒 Radio 4
Script
Good Morning.
Today would have been the 100th birthday of Oscar Romero. When he became Archbishop of San Salvador in 1977, he was viewed as a conservative churchman. But he allowed himself to be changed by understanding the suffering of his people. He became their advocate, the voice of the voiceless. He listened to the people in their poverty and spoke the truth about the violence of the regime in his country. He accepted that in naming the perpetrators of the atrocities committed and telling the world he risked his life.聽
Impressed by his courage, over a hundred British MPs nominated him for the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize, but it did not save him. He was gunned down whilst saying Mass in 1980.聽
Romero鈥檚 assassination brought comparisons with Thomas a Becket, hacked to death in Canterbury Cathedral. Amazingly Romero鈥檚 martyrdom, 800 years later, coincided exactly with the installation of Robert Runcie as archbishop in that same Cathedral. It helped create a bond of affection and admiration for Romero in the Anglican communion.
What are we to make of those who sacrifice their lives because of their faith and their love of the poor? They are inspiring. But they also make us uncomfortable. Does our faith seem too small, too fearful, when we see the courage of those who do not seek martyrdom but whose faith and love leads them to that point?
There are no easy answers. But at least we can live with the inspiration and the question. Oscar Romero and other contemporary martyrs are like icons of blazing light and truth about our world. We must cherish them.
Lord, thank-you for those of any faith who give their lives for others. Help us to be disturbed by their example and inspired by their faith.聽
Amen.
Today would have been the 100th birthday of Oscar Romero. When he became Archbishop of San Salvador in 1977, he was viewed as a conservative churchman. But he allowed himself to be changed by understanding the suffering of his people. He became their advocate, the voice of the voiceless. He listened to the people in their poverty and spoke the truth about the violence of the regime in his country. He accepted that in naming the perpetrators of the atrocities committed and telling the world he risked his life.聽
Impressed by his courage, over a hundred British MPs nominated him for the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize, but it did not save him. He was gunned down whilst saying Mass in 1980.聽
Romero鈥檚 assassination brought comparisons with Thomas a Becket, hacked to death in Canterbury Cathedral. Amazingly Romero鈥檚 martyrdom, 800 years later, coincided exactly with the installation of Robert Runcie as archbishop in that same Cathedral. It helped create a bond of affection and admiration for Romero in the Anglican communion.
What are we to make of those who sacrifice their lives because of their faith and their love of the poor? They are inspiring. But they also make us uncomfortable. Does our faith seem too small, too fearful, when we see the courage of those who do not seek martyrdom but whose faith and love leads them to that point?
There are no easy answers. But at least we can live with the inspiration and the question. Oscar Romero and other contemporary martyrs are like icons of blazing light and truth about our world. We must cherish them.
Lord, thank-you for those of any faith who give their lives for others. Help us to be disturbed by their example and inspired by their faith.聽
Amen.
Broadcast
- Tue 15 Aug 2017 05:43大象传媒 Radio 4
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