apart by social injustice; the poor suffered and had no voice. He
demanded explanations from the government and tried to raise awareness
to the struggle of the poor. He was assassinated while saying Sunday
Mass. He showed his support for the poor through his famous speeches
and said: “If they kill me, I will rise again in the Salvadoran people.” This
shows that his death did not end the struggle of the poor, in fact it made
them more determined to fight for justice. Jesus’ death did not mean the
apostles ended their mission, after Jesus ascended to heaven “the
disciples went out and preached everywhere” (Mk 16:20) and they began
the Early Church. Often someone’s death can bring more recognition to
what they fought and believed for than their actual life and it is their death
that reminds us of how they lived their life.
Mother Teresa is an example of someone who lived for her faith. She
devoted her life to helping and comforting the poor in Calcutta as she was
shocked by the poverty there when she arrived in Calcutta as a young nun.
She was often described as a “living saint” because of her commitment
and love to the dying in Calcutta. Mother Teresa’s life echoed Jesus’ as
Jesus always had time for the poor, the sick and the outsiders in society,
for example, when he healed a Syro-Phoenician woman’s daughter.
Through living out her life for her beliefs, Mother Teresa brought comfort
and help to many. Many people would not have had the chance to feel her
“special grace” if she had died for her faith. Christians looked up to her
because she was an example of how someone lived out her life to serve
God.
It is important for Christians to live for their beliefs as this can help and
bring comfort to many people. Sometimes martyrs bring more
recognition to the cause they died for, the death of Oscar Romero
strengthened the fight against injustice in El Salvador. I think it is what
Christians do with their lives though that counts, after all we are judged on
how we live our lives and if we respond to problems and situations in life
as the Beatitudes tell us to. Although Romero died for his faith, his death
would have had little importance if he had not lived out a good life. Jesus’
death would have had little significance if he had not devoted three years
to teaching and preaching and healing the sick. If Romero’s life had been
prolonged he would have had more chances to comfort more people. It
would not make sense for everyone to die for their faith. Jesus did not
ask us all to die for our faith, only when it was necessary, “Whoever loses
his life for me and for the gospel will save it.” (Mk 8:35) As Christians we
would be better to live out our beliefs and try to improve the world around
us by being like salt and light for the world, we should preserve the good
qualities in ourselves and let them shine to the world.
Bronagh Kealey
