Romero: Faith as Hope Against Hope - Liberation (Hebrews 11:1-6)

In the heart of San Salvador, amidst the vibrant colors of street murals depicting hope and struggle, Archbishop Oscar Romero stood as a beacon of faith during one of the darkest chapters in El Salvador's history. His unwavering belief in “the conviction of things not seen” was not merely a passive reflection; it was a profound conviction that inspired action in the face of relentless oppression. Picture him in the dim light of a makeshift chapel, surrounded by the weary faces of the poor, their eyes full of desperation and yearning for justice. Romero’s faith was not an ethereal dream; it was a concrete, liberating hope—a hope that saw not only the possibility of peace but also the very real paths toward achieving it.

In Hebrews 11, we find that faith is always accompanied by action. Abel offered his best to God, Enoch walked faithfully with Him, and Noah, in the midst of a mocking world, built an ark that spoke of divine promise. Romero's faith was no different. When he proclaimed that “a church which does not concern itself with the poor... is not the Church of Christ,” he was acting out his conviction. He understood that faith without action is a hollow echo—meaningless and impotent.

As military violence loomed, Romero’s heart beat for a just future. His faith was a revolutionary fire, igniting the hope of liberation not just for himself but for his people. Even in the face of death, he clung to that hope—a hope that challenged the status quo and called forth the courage to stand against brutality. Romero became a living testament to liberation faith: a faith that dares to hope against hope, transforming despair into action, and ultimately, into martyrdom. His legacy whispers to us today: true faith moves us to build, to speak, and to love boldly, even when the path is fraught with peril.