Romero: Fear Not, God of the Poor Is With You - Liberation (Isaiah 41:10)

In the heart of El Salvador, during a time of deep unrest and oppression, Archbishop Oscar Romero stood firm in his faith, a solitary figure against the backdrop of a nation torn apart by violence. Each Sunday, as he entered the cathedral, he could feel the heavy weight of fear hanging in the air—a palpable anxiety that coursed through the pews. Many in his congregation were the poor, the marginalized, the oppressed, who had experienced firsthand the harsh hand of tyranny. They were anxious, their faces etched with worry, whispering fears of what might come next.

Yet, in this atmosphere of dread, Romero boldly proclaimed God’s message from Isaiah 41:10: “Fear not, for I am with you.” His voice, steady as he stood at the pulpit, resonated like a lighthouse in a storm. He understood the depth of those words, not as a distant promise but as a heartfelt assurance that the God of the poor was intimately present with them. With each syllable, he spoke life into their fears: “I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Romero knew he was not merely an observer of their pain; he was a fellow traveler on the road of suffering. He bore witness to their struggles, standing alongside them in solidarity, as a shepherd who refused to abandon his flock. When threats of assassination loomed, he did not cower. Instead, he embraced his role as a voice for the voiceless, believing that God’s presence was strongest among those who had been crushed by injustice.

His steadfastness inspired courage in others. They began to believe in the promise that they were not alone, that the God of the oppressed was a God who cared deeply. In their meetings, they held hands, praying fervently for strength, and in those moments, they felt a warmth, a palpable embrace of divine love.