My last post was about a sad anniversary and today's post is about another sad anniversary (sorry for the sadness- I'll try to write a really happy post next time, but no promises).
Twenty-one years ago six Jesuit priests and two women were murdered by the Salvadoran army at the University of Central America (UCA) in San Salvador. The priests were murdered because they spoke out against the violence being committed in El Salvador and the Salvadoran government/army did not like this. Most of the violence was being committed by the Salvadoran state, but the Jesuits also spoke out against violence being committed by other groups like the guerrillas. The Jesuits did not discriminate when speaking out against violence. No matter who was doing it, these Jesuits declared violence was wrong. For speaking out and being a voice for the victims of the violence, the Jesuit priests became victims of violence themselves. See my post where I wrote about my visit to the University of Central America for more info.
Thousands of people are heading to Fort Benning, Georgia this weekend to protest the School of the Americas (aka the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, WHINSEC). The School of the Americas is a military training school that has trained many members of Latin American armed forces including the Salvadoran battalion that was responsible for the massacre of the Jesuits. Many of the graduates of the school have gone on to commit grave human rights abuses. The protest this weekend is the 20th annual non-violent protest which began on the first anniversary of the massacre of the Jesuits and the two women at the University of Central America. Please keep the protestors in your thoughts and prayers this weekend as they march for peace and justice especially for the people of Latin America.
Lately, I have been thinking a lot about what I am willing to do and what I am willing to give up for the things I believe in. Reflecting on the massacre at the University of Central America (UCA) has given me further things to think about and challenge me. The Jesuits at the UCA knew that speaking out against the violence in El Salvador put them in real danger, and yet they continued with their work. They were willing to give up their safety and their lives in order to stand up for the poor and those who were suffering in El Salvador during the civil war. So the question is: Am I willing to do what they did (speak out against the status quo and plead for peace, even when it's not the popular thing to do) and am I willing to give up what they did (their lives)? I can probably say "yes" to the former and "I just don't know" to the latter. It is obviously very difficult to say what I would do in their situation because I'm not in their situation and it is very difficult to try to imagine it. Nevertheless, I can say that I firmly believe that there should be peace and justice in the world, but unless I'm willing to do whatever it takes and give up whatever it takes I'm not sure that I really believe what I say I believe.
Even if I'm not quite ready or strong enough to say "absolutely, yes!" to following the example of the Jesuits at the UCA, their example and the example of so many other martyrs challenges me and gives me hope. I can look at the lives of the Jesuit martyrs and see specific examples of what it means to be a Christian and to work for justice.
In my post that I referred you to above, I wrote about one of my favorite theologians, Jon Sobrino. One of the reasons why I love and admire Jon Sobrino so much is that even after his co-workers at the UCA were massacred, he continued on. Jon was out of the country when his Jesuit brothers were murdered, but Jon went right back to El Salvador and picked up where they left off. And he continues to this day to be a voice for the voiceless and to speak out against violence and injustice- no matter how much trouble it might get him in. How many other people would continue to do the very same thing that got their friends killed? I think Jon Sobrino is one of the few who takes his calling of working for justice so seriously.
There are also so many other lives that I can emulate and learn from. And it's not just "important" people like Jon Sobrino and the Jesuit martyrs- so many of my Salvadoran friends are just "regular" people and yet they are living their lives in a way that rejects violence and embraces peace. I'm embarrassed to even begin to compare my easy, American suburban life with the way they live out their faith in radical ways even through incredible difficulties and suffering. I am reassured to know there are people out there working for a just world and I am reassured and challenged to know that it is possible for me (a "regular" human being) to become a person who works for a just world, even through whatever struggles will come my way.
Could I be as brave, courageous, faithful, and loving as these Salvadorans? Highly doubtful. Are there things in my life I can do to be a little bit more like Jon Sobrino, the Jesuit martyrs, my Salvadoran friends (and Jesus)? Absolutely.
So that's what I'll do. Take steps in the right direction. Isn't that all any of us can do?
I came across this article by another amazing Jesuit, John Dear. John offers some helpful thoughts on the Jesuit martyrs as well as how their death can help move forward us closer to a world of peace and justice. Perhaps you might find it helpful as well.
