Yesterday afternoon we gathered in the Emmanuel sanctuary to mark the 29th anniversary of the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero. Over the years I have shared in prayers for Romero and El Salvador in many different congregations, but to share in communion with Salvadoran Canadians, with people who knew Romero, with a congregation of people who have for the most part lived or travelled to El Salvador is a very different experience.
In his last sermon, delivered on the day before his murder on March 23, 1980, Romero challenged soldiers of the National Guard to choose between God and their government: God’s law says “Thou shalt not kill” so do not obey any orders to kill another human being.
“In the name of God, and in the name of this suffering people whose laments rise to heaven each day more tumultuous, I beg you, I beseech you, I order you in the name of God: stop the repression. “
The sermon ended with those words, words that still ring with power all these years later. They underline one of the major themes of this season of lent, the cost of discipleship.
Peter
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Monday, March 30, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Thoughts on the Presidential Election in El Salvador.
It was the day before the presidential election in El Salvador. We, were having breakfast with one of the country’s national heroes, Salvador Sanchez.
He began his career as a primary school teacher but when many of his fellow teachers were assassinated by death squads, Sanchez took up arms. He rose to a senior position among the guerillas. Now Sanchez was the vice presidential candidate for the FMLN. The next day he would become the second most important person in the country.
The surprising thing to our group is that this leader would take the time on the day before the election, to meet with a roomful of national and international election observers from churches. Following his talk and a question and answer period, people lined up for autographs and pictures. Sanchez was not familiar to most of us but from the adoring looks of Salvadorans, we had a sense of what a significant figure he was to them.
After he had been whisked away to another event, I sat down in a shady chair. I fell into a conversation with a man sitting next to me. Luis was his name. Luis told me he was a Lutheran deacon, working in a town in the west of the country.
It had been a difficult couple of years for him. A group of other ministers had confronted him about his ministry. They were not in favour of his work. He was not taking the bible as the literal word of God. His theology was too concerned with this world rather than with saving souls for the next. And yet he felt that he was being faithful to his call, putting programs in place that were dealing with the whole person and the very practical needs of the community.
Nobody was lining up for pictures with Luis, but I felt the goodness of the man and of his work. I will remember him in prayer.
Peter
You may also send your comments to assistant.webmaster@emmanuelunited.ca and I will make sure they are posted.
He began his career as a primary school teacher but when many of his fellow teachers were assassinated by death squads, Sanchez took up arms. He rose to a senior position among the guerillas. Now Sanchez was the vice presidential candidate for the FMLN. The next day he would become the second most important person in the country.
The surprising thing to our group is that this leader would take the time on the day before the election, to meet with a roomful of national and international election observers from churches. Following his talk and a question and answer period, people lined up for autographs and pictures. Sanchez was not familiar to most of us but from the adoring looks of Salvadorans, we had a sense of what a significant figure he was to them.
After he had been whisked away to another event, I sat down in a shady chair. I fell into a conversation with a man sitting next to me. Luis was his name. Luis told me he was a Lutheran deacon, working in a town in the west of the country.
It had been a difficult couple of years for him. A group of other ministers had confronted him about his ministry. They were not in favour of his work. He was not taking the bible as the literal word of God. His theology was too concerned with this world rather than with saving souls for the next. And yet he felt that he was being faithful to his call, putting programs in place that were dealing with the whole person and the very practical needs of the community.
Nobody was lining up for pictures with Luis, but I felt the goodness of the man and of his work. I will remember him in prayer.
Peter
You may also send your comments to assistant.webmaster@emmanuelunited.ca and I will make sure they are posted.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
God's Call
Sometimes God’ call is unavoidable. It just comes knocking on the door. That was the case for Sister Eugenia Bonetti. He first call took her from Rome to Africa where she worked for 24 years. When she returned to Rome, she responded to another call.
A young woman came to the door begging for help. She had escaped from her captors who had made her a sex slave. She was a Christian and asked the sisters to pray. This encounter opened Sister Bonetti’s eyes to the extent of the evil of human trafficking. She has been helping to open others’ eyes ever since.
Her own congregation now has 250 sisters working to provide safe havens and rehabilitation for these victims of modern slavery. She has connected with sisters around the world and organized them into a network of support and service. She has pushed governments to catch up with the church.
Eleanor Gaeten, senior coordinator for public policy in at the US State Department said it was faith-based groups and women such as Sister Bonetti who first brought the issue to the attention of lawmakers and government officials. These sisters were the ones visiting the slaves in detention and following up with them when they were released.
The sisters have the background of working with the poor. They are more trusted than the police. They have that welcoming and comforting maternal presence. A great need meets a compassionate heart. What a perfect fit.
Peter
You can also send your comments to assistant.webmaster@emmanuelunited.ca
and I will make sure they are posted
A young woman came to the door begging for help. She had escaped from her captors who had made her a sex slave. She was a Christian and asked the sisters to pray. This encounter opened Sister Bonetti’s eyes to the extent of the evil of human trafficking. She has been helping to open others’ eyes ever since.
Her own congregation now has 250 sisters working to provide safe havens and rehabilitation for these victims of modern slavery. She has connected with sisters around the world and organized them into a network of support and service. She has pushed governments to catch up with the church.
Eleanor Gaeten, senior coordinator for public policy in at the US State Department said it was faith-based groups and women such as Sister Bonetti who first brought the issue to the attention of lawmakers and government officials. These sisters were the ones visiting the slaves in detention and following up with them when they were released.
The sisters have the background of working with the poor. They are more trusted than the police. They have that welcoming and comforting maternal presence. A great need meets a compassionate heart. What a perfect fit.
Peter
You can also send your comments to assistant.webmaster@emmanuelunited.ca
and I will make sure they are posted
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