Romero: Mission as Solidarity With the Oppressed - Liberation (Great Commission)

Every once in a while, a moment comes along that changes everything—like the moment Archbishop Oscar Romero witnessed the harrowing murder of his dear friend, Father Rutilio Grande, right before his eyes. Imagine the scene: a humble church in El Salvador, where the scent of incense mingles with the earthy aroma of the nearby fields. The sun casts long shadows as Romero, once a quiet observer, stands paralyzed by grief and rage. As he watches the violence that has shattered his community, something stirs within him—a conviction ignited, a call to action that can no longer be ignored.

In that moment, Romero declared that the Church must become the voice of the voiceless, standing boldly against injustice. It was not merely a change in his mind; it was a transformation of the heart, a divine calling that led him to embrace liberation theology. He understood the Great Commission—“Make disciples of all nations”—as more than a call to evangelism; it became a sacred mandate to form communities among the poor, to invite the marginalized to read Scripture through their own lived experiences, and to discern God's liberating action in the world around them.

Picture the faithful gathering in those small base communities, sitting on dirt floors, their eyes shining with hope as they share their stories. Romero’s mission was not just about preaching; it was about praxis—engaging in the profound dance of reflection and action for liberation. Teaching, as Jesus exemplified in His Nazareth manifesto, meant offering good news to the poor, freedom for prisoners, and release for the oppressed. The very mission of Christ breathed life into the hearts of those who dared to believe they could change their world, and it calls us today, urging us to lean into the very real struggles of our community, to stand in solidarity with the oppressed, and to act. Are we ready to echo that call?