Romero: The Poor Fearfully Made - Liberation (Psalm 139:13-16)

In the heart of El Salvador, beneath the sweltering sun, Archbishop Oscar Romero stood amidst a gathering of impoverished campesinos—men and women whose hands were calloused from years of toiling the land. As he looked into their weathered faces, he saw not just the harsh realities of their existence but the radiant truth of Psalm 139: "You are fearfully and wonderfully made." He spoke these words with a conviction that echoed through the dusty village—their worth not diminished by the oppressive systems that tried to define them.

Imagine a young mother, María, cradling her newborn in her arms, her eyes glistening with dreams for a future she can barely grasp. She had been told time and again that her life was defined by poverty, that her value was reduced to the labor of her hands. But as Romero preached, he reminded her and the gathered crowd that God's handiwork was etched into their very being. "You formed my inward parts," he declared, pointing not only to the rich soil beneath their feet but to the divine image that resided within each of them.

Romero’s message was revolutionary; it was the radical affirmation that being poor did not diminish their dignity. In that moment, spirits were lifted, and hope began to bloom like flowers breaking through cracked earth. Each campesino, each exploited worker, bore the imprint of the Creator, made with intent and purpose. As the sun began to set, casting golden rays across the gathered crowd, they felt a renewed sense of identity—no longer defined by their suffering, but by their sacred worth. In the embrace of Psalm 139, they found liberation; they were not just survivors; they were masterpieces of divine creation, fearfully and wonderfully made.