by Joseph Nangle, OFM
Pax Christi USA 2023 Teacher of Peace
Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
John 12:24
This year Palm Sunday coincides with the feast day of Saint Oscar Romero, the martyred archbishop of San Salvador, Central America. This is one more instance of the uncanny similarity not only between the final chapters in the lives of Jesus and Romero but the trajectory of each one’s public life which led to their martyrdom.
Recalling this utterly remarkable confluence of events presents us with a rich background for prayerful reflections on the High Holy Days about to begin. Both Jesus and the archbishop had their precursors. John the Baptizer came to announce the imminent arrival of the long-awaited Messiah. His testimony was powerful and led ultimately to a violent death. He paved the way for what might be called the “seamless” entry of the Lord into the history of salvation. The dear friend of Romero, Blessed Rutilio Grande, SJ, paved the way for the archbishop’s role as spokesperson for those who were poor and dispossessed of that country. He likewise suffered martyrdom on March 12, 1977, just three weeks after Romero had been installed as archbishop of San Salvador. It is generally accepted that he took up Grande’s prophetic mantle as his own.
Jesus and Romero both spent just three years fulfilling their God-given vocations, a surprising fact when one considers what a short time that is. It also points to the power of the spoken word – each of them quickly became a threat to the unjust status quo with nothing more than prophetic statements – no worldly power; no political base.
The Messiah and the archbishop encountered increasing opposition as each spoke truth to power. The accounts of the growing hatred for Jesus fill the Gospels as early as his first appearance in the synagogue on returning to Nazareth: “They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong.” (Luke 4:29) Many local newspapers [in El Salvador] condemned Romero as a “demagogic and violent archbishop who preached terrorism.” They made threats such as “the armed forces should begin to oil their weapons [to kill Romero].”
As the hatred for Jesus and Romero deepened, both foretold the outcome: violent death and resurrection. “Jesus was teaching and telling his disciples ‘the Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death he will rise.’” (Mark 9:31) And as the opposition to Archbishop Romero became more ferocious, he predicted: “If they kill me, I will arise in the Salvadoran people.”
The immediate motivation for killing Jesus and Romero is also eerily similar. Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead and more people flock to him. The Sanhedrin (religious leadership assembly) calls a meeting and in effect agrees that “it is better… that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish… So from that day on they planned to kill him.” (John 11:50, 53)
On Sunday, March 23, 1980, Archbishop Romero, as was his custom, celebrated the Eucharist in the cathedral of San Salvador. He appealed to soldiers, national guardsmen and policemen: “The peasants you kill are your own brothers and sisters… In the name of God and in the name of this long-suffering people whose laments rise to heaven every day more tumultuous, I beseech you, I beg you, I command you in the name of God ‘stop the repression.’”
The next day as he was celebrating Mass in the chapel of the Divina Providencia Hospital, Archbishop Romero was shot dead.
“It is only because He became like us that we can become like Him.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Joe Nangle OFM is a Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace and the 2023 Pax Christi USA Teacher of Peace. As a member of the Assisi Community in Washington, D.C., he is dedicated to simple living and social change. Joe also serves as the Pastoral Associate for the Latino community at Our Lady Queen of Peace, Arlington, Virginia.
I’m very thankful for this essay of the parallel lives of Jesus and Romero.
Thank you Fr Joe. It seems that those who exploit the poor can’t seem to handle the existence of those who would love and defend the poor and common person. They think that by extinguishing those who love the poor and expose oppressors they will remain in control . Not so. Inspired by the loss of brave and loving leaders more good people arise to take their place. Compassion and Justice will prevail.