In Memoriam of Gustavo Gutiérrez and Walter Brueggemann - Part 1
Along with countless others across the world, I grieve the loss of these two giants who died in 2025. They both left an indelible mark on theology and Scripture studies and, perhaps more importantly, on the lives of those fortunate enough to have access to their work. For theirs was a conceptual vision grounded in reality, a muscular hope that transformative social change and a better world are in fact possible.
Reflection on the work of these two men would fill volumes. I offer a very brief reflection in two parts sparked by the significant personal impact of two professors who were my summer-school teachers at Boston College.
Fr. Gustavo Gutiérrez
Gustavo Gutiérrez is recognized as the father of liberation theology. What distinguishes his work and is often overlooked is his communal approach to salvation/liberation and to the “option for the poor.” In his evolving work over the decades, he continued to insist on the salvific significance of poor communities in history. Therein lies a valuable lesson in solidarity with the oppressed for us as a congregation as we struggle to find a foothold in the current world disorder and respond actively to our mission of seeking unity and reconciliation, that is, the communion of all in God.
Given the constraints of space, I choose one quotation among many to illustrate Gustavo’s key insight concerning solidarity as liberative praxis (action for liberation) in the Christian context:
“The praxis of liberation, therefore, inasmuch as it starts out from an authentic solidarity with the poor and oppressed, is ultimately a praxis of love – real love, effective and concrete, for real, concrete human beings. It is a praxis of love of neighbor, and of love for Christ in the neighbor, for Christ identifies himself with the least of these human beings, our brothers and sisters.”
As we carry out our CSJ mission, whatever our own particular circumstances, let us be inspired by the legacy of Gustavo Gutiérrez.
-Sister Joyce Murray, CSJ
Image: Jonathan Dick, OSFS/Unsplash