In response to the lack of positive response Jesus receives in his hometown of Nazareth, Jesus announces to the people: “No prophet is accepted in his own native place.” Though Jesus had followers and disciples who received his message into their hearts, the scribes, the Pharisees, and the elders of the people refused to listen. Later in the month of March, we commemorate the anniversary of the martyrdom of one of the great prophets of the 20th century – Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador. When chosen as the Archbishop of this Central American country, the rich and powerful of the country were delighted, as they saw him as one of their own, a man who would not give them any problems. However, Romero saw the harsh reality of the oppression and the atrocities that were taking place across his country. Romero was not afraid to speak out against these injustices, but this made a target himself. He was martyred by the military forces of that country on March 24, 1980. It is hard to believe it is now 40 years since his death. It is so very true that sometimes we don’t hear the truth in the voices of the prophets of our land, as Jesus points out in today’s Gospel. Romero was beatified under Pope Francis is 2015 and canonize as a saint of our faith in 2018. Yes, indeed, it is important for us to recognize and listen to the prophets in our midst.
No comments:
Post a Comment