As missionaries serving in Latin America, we
are often asked how Liberation Theology affects our
ministry. As many of you know, the term “Liberation
Theology” was coined by Peruvian priest Gustavo
Gutierrez in 1971 to refer to a movement emerging in
Latin America at that time that views Christ’s life and
teachings through the eyes of those who are marginalized
by unjust political, economic and social systems.
One specific way that this theology has penetrated
our spiritual lives has been through a series of
paintings by Adolfo Perez Esquivel, an Argentine
human rights activist. In 1980 he won the Nobel
Peace Prize in recognition of his leadership in a nonviolent
movement to oppose the military dictatorships
that swept through Latin America during the 1960’s
and 1970’s. Esquivel’s paintings, “the Latin American
Way of the Cross” walk us through the Stations
of the Cross from the perspective of those who suffer
injustice in Latin America.
Over the past few years,
the opportunity to meditate on these paintings during
Holy Week has visually and spiritually integrated
Christ’s suffering with the historic and current struggles
of people in Latin America. This meditation refocuses
and renews our understanding of what it
means to be a disciple of Christ. As we visualize
Christ’s life through the lens of the Cross, we see so
simply and clearly how God chose to be revealed in a
human life that began amid the dehumanizing conditions
of Christ’s birth in a manger and ended in the
humiliation of Christ’s death on the Cross. In other
words, it was a life of complete solidarity with those
who suffer in this world. As Christ’s disciples today,
we are also called to continue the ministry of healing
and transformation that he began among the people
who lived at the margins of society during his time.
When we walk along this Latin American Way of the
Cross, we also arrive at new understandings of the Resurrection.
In the final painting of Esquivel’s stations of the
Cross (below), the Resurrected Christ stands with those
who have suffered persecution in Latin America from the
time of conquest through colonization into contemporary
times.
In the unwavering hope of these people
who never lost faith despite all of the
injustice that they faced, we see the true
power of the Resurrection. Our prayer
for this Easter Season is that we may be
renewed in our discipleship to walk ever
more faithfully with our companions
along the Way of the Cross as it is the
only path that leads us to a full understanding
of the power and hope of the
Resurrection.
With Easter Joy,
Kate Lawler-Wunsch and David Wunsch
ELCA Regional Representatives in
South America
