Week of November 15-21

 

This week bears a seal of holiness different from recent weeks. We remember that 20 years ago November 16^th 6 Jesuits, their housekeeper, Elba, and her daughter, Celina were brutally murdered in their residence at the University of Central America in El Salvador. 

 

Collectively, they have been called the Salvadoran martyrs.

 

But it isn’t just their martyrdom that is significant. The fact that they were regular people like you and me makes me wonder. Could you imagine dying at the hands of local officials because of the threat that you pose to the current status quo?

 

We educate New Orleanians and those involved in the recovery and rebuilding of the city of New Orleans on issues of fairness. We drive visitors around a 40 mile area of the city to show where the water flooded areas and what we look like since. We spend time asking, “Who got left behind” as we create systems and policies meant to help most but cannot nearly satisfy every need.

 

I can’t help but think that we could be put to death for raising awareness around issues of justice in our community just like the Jesuits in El Salvador during the height of the Civil War in 1989.

 

For more reflections on the history and subsequent ripples of hope, visit Santa Clara University’s site at http://www.scu.edu/ignatiancenter/publications/explore/fall2009/.

 

Let us continue to pray for acts of justice and mercy in our very troubled world.