Good news for the poor...

The world mourns the death of Fr. Gustavo Gutiérrez (1928-2024), a priest and theologian who was one of the first to articulate a theology of liberation, and who is arguably the most influential theologian of the last fifty years. His works and his lived example have impacted practical ministry from the grassroots to the Vatican, theological education in Catholic and Protestant secondary schools, universities, and seminaries, and the disciplines of systematic theology and theological ethics within the academy. Fr. Gutiérrez gave voice to the marginalized, silenced, and oppressed masses because he challenged ecclesial and academic theologians to frame their theological reflections and observations around one simple question: "How do we convey to the poor that God loves them?” (Gutiérrez, We Drink from Our Own Wells, p. 28).

Yet, despite this enormous and unparalleled legacy, what remains constant  in the testimony of those mourning him is praise for his human warmth, abundant compassion, and genuine concern for others. To these praises I add my own. I only met Fr. Gutiérrez twice, both times on the campus of Princeton Theological Seminary. The first was a chance encounter walking from the Dinky, the shuttle train connecting Princeton Junction to the Princeton University campus, where I saw a small figure struggling with a large wheeled suitcase. I approached and offered to help only to be pleasantly surprised Gustavo Gutiérrez was standing before me. I introduced myself, told him how important his work was for my theological formation, then grabbed the suitcase handle and offered to walk with him wherever he was heading. By chance we were both heading to the same location, the library on the campus of Princeton Theological Seminary, so I rambled on and on about my dissertation while he listened patiently. I had so much to tell him I honestly can't remember if I ever let him speak!

Our second meeting several years later (by this time I was an assistant professor at Saint Louis University) took place at an academic conference on the campus of Princeton Seminary hosted by the Hispanic Theological Initiative, where I had the privilege of having breakfast with Fr. Gutiérrez. Soon the conversation turned to the work I was doing with U.S. university students who undertook a two-month immersion experience in a Christian base community outside of Managua, Nicaragua. When I told Fr. Gutiérrez that one of my students gave up his wealth and privilege to stay in Nicaragua to live and work among the poor of Ciudad Sandino, the kindly priest responded, “Great. Just what Latin America needs: one more poor person.”

He must have seen the look of shock on my face because over breakfast he then explained that my students need to realize that their wealth and privilege are gifts from God that ought to be used in solidarity with the poor to transform the social realities that cause and perpetuate poverty. Voluntary poverty, despite students' romantic visions of a stark-naked Francis giving all his clothes to a beggar, is best understood as solidarity with the poor by employing the resources at one’s disposal to humanize and liberate those in need. After all, when done properly, a life in political and economic solidarity with the poor will appear just as foolish from the perspective of modern capitalism.

I was blown away. And humbled. So much wit, wisdom, and compassion in one human being, without compromising his guiding commitments as a liberationist.

Every few years at scholarly conferences one inevitably runs across a panel discussion on the future of liberation theology. Scholars have proclaimed the death of liberation theology before, and they will do so again. As I reflect on the influence Gustavo Gutiérrez has had on my discipline, I recall his words at a plenary session during the 2001 annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion marking the thirtieth anniversary of the publication of A Theology of Liberation. Fr. Gutiérrez was asked, "Is there a viable future for liberation theology?" To which he calmly responded, "So long as the material conditions exist that give rise to dehumanizing poverty and perpetuate a culture of death, there will be a need for a theology of liberation, whatever we choose to call it."

Thank you Gustavo for all you have given the world. My prayers are with you as you enter into glory, and I am assured knowing you have now joined that eternal cloud of witnesses whose prayers uphold the world and guide us on that same path.

​ Fr. Gustavo Gutierrez, ¡Presente!