First, I want to share with you something that was written on March 26th, 1978
~ from the book, The Violence of Love ~
“Christ would not be Redeemer if he had not concerned himself with giving food to the crowds that were hungry,
if he had not given light to the eyes of the blind, if he had not felt sorrow for the forsaken crowds that had no one to love them, no one to help them. Christianity cares about human development, about the political and social aspects of life. Redemption would not be complete if it did not consider these aspects of the Christ who chose in fact to be an example of one oppressed under a powerful empire and under a ruling class of his people that savaged his reputation and honor and left him on a cross. ” ~ Archbishop Oscar Romero
For me, this writing made me think of Uganda. When I go there, I want to feed the hungry children, offer help for those who are sick, my heart is filled with sorrow when I hear the stories of abandoned children, little babies left on the side of road because no one wanted them. It also makes me angry, knowing there are people placed in political power who abuse it, not caring for their fellow citizens they have been empowered, employed, engaged to administer social justice…do they give a shit? Power and authority and greed can be all an evil seducers.
But in all that, I need to constantly remind myself to be present in the moment, and with excellence, love like Christ loved. The most important commission, to share my faith and give God the glory for each breath I take using my little, small voice to shout the joy of the Savior who redeemed me.
Archbishop Romero was killed by an assassin’s bullet on March 24, 1980. His voice lives on today.
My prayer is that our voice in Uganda will be loud and clear…Jesus is alive and well in the faithful servants that have come to this dry and weary land.
James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
lisa nester 