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This week, we'll be sending you two additional reflections for the Lenten season. Today you'll find a reflection on the anniversary of the death of Archbishop Oscar Romero, by Jean Stokan and Scott Wright from Pax Christi USA's Lenten reflection booklet from 2010. Tomorrow you'll receive a reflection for the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord.
If you are looking for additional reflections on Romero's life and witness, you can find several past posts from the Pax Christi USA website by clicking here. You can find all of our reflections and resources for Lent 2014 by clicking here.
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REFLECTION FOR THE THIRD MONDAY OF LENT
THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF ARCHBISHOP ROMERO
By Jean Stokan and Scott Wright
Today we commemorate the life of one of our contemporary witnesses, Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was murdered at the altar while celebrating the Eucharist. Like the martyrs of the early church, Archbishop Romero gave his life out of love rather than worship and serve false gods. Romero's life bore witness to the truth that sets one free to lay down one's life out of love for enemies and friends alike, as his own words and life testify:
We believe in Jesus who came to bring life in its fullest and we believe in a living God who gives life to humankind and wants all to live in truth. These radical truths of the faith become truths--radical truths--when the Church inserts herself in the midst of the life and death of the people. It is there that the Church is presented--as it is presented to every person--with the most fundamental option of faith: to be in favor of life or in favor of death.
There is no doubt whatsoever that here there is no room for neutrality. We are either at the service of the life of Salvadorans or we are accomplices in their death. And it is here that we are faced with the most fundamental reality of the historical mediation of faith: either we believe in a God of life or we serve the idols of death...
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