Mahony Remembers Chavez as Prophet of Social Justice

Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, Roman Catholic archbishop of Los Angeles, delivered this homily in English and Spanish at labor leader Cesar Chavez’s funeral Mass in Delano on Thursday. This is an excerpt.

The incredible energy of today’s Scriptures captivates us as we listen to the letter from James and the Gospel from Matthew, as our hearts and minds resonate with the wondrous strength of God calling all of us to live as instruments for justice, respecter of human rights and dignity for all peoples, guarantors of economic rights for the farm workers and laborers of the world, and peacemakers.

The challenge of these Scriptures surrounds us as we gather with our many different stories that have linked each of us with Cesar Chavez and with his charismatic leadership over the past decades. Each person here can relate his or her own story about when, where and how they first met Cesar; how his influence helped to shape their lives and destinies, and how their own commitment to seek a new dignity and economic justice for all farm workers was sparked in their lives by Cesar.

The simple energy of these two Scriptures served as a spiritual foundation for Cesar, and they nourished him as a disciple of Jesus Christ, as one who believed in the promises of Christ, and one who hoped in the power of the Lord’s Resurrection. In their own way, James’ letter and Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount link the spiritual idealism that so motivated Cesar throughout his life with the stark realism of the struggle for farm workers’ rights, dignity and justice that won the supreme commitment of his entire life.

In James’ letter to the early church, he castigates and condemns those rich people who have amassed this world’s goods through the sweat, labors, heartaches and deprivations of the poor and their families. In some of the strongest language found in the Scriptures, James scolds those wealthy people who have become rich by withholding the just wages of their farm workers. He assures those deprived workers that their cries have been lifted up to the ears of the Lord of hosts and have been heard.

James, like all God’s prophets before him, understood his mission as proclaiming forthrightly God’s vision and design for the human family, and to call all peoples to transform their lives to reflect that design. So, too, did Cesar accept his role as a special prophet for the world’s farm workers. Faithful to this call, Cesar Chavez dedicated himself:

* To serve as a special champion for the poor, the migrant, the ones who toiled in the fields that put food on the nation’s tables.

* To serve as a promoter of God’s plan that extends to all people, regardless of race, language or occupation.

* To serve as a prophet who was bold enough to criticize and to energize, to proclaim the vision of justice embodied in God’s kingdom and to denounce unjust systems that withheld wages or defrauded farm workers and their families.

* To serve as the keeper of this sacred vision, constantly reminding farm workers of their just goals.

* To serve as the prophet who could imagine and envision a future in which farm workers were treated with dignity and justice, and to empower farm worker mothers and fathers to pass on that dream, that vision, to their own children.

Cesar Chavez, like James, embraced the true prophet’s role as he gave personal witness to the power of God’s grace in his life, and as he instilled hope in thousands of farm workers across the nation.

Cesar Chavez lived deeply his faith in God and his commitment to the body of Christ, the church. He knew well the value of popular religiosity and its wondrous effect upon farm workers. Unafraid to witness his faith publicly, the ever-present banner of Our Lady of Guadalupe preceded every march, every rally and every union demonstration.

Cesar loved the many Spanish acclamations that are so much a part of the spiritual legacy of the people: Viva Cristo Rey! Viva Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe! --and others. And to this list he added the ever-popular expression of faith: Si, se puede!

Throughout Mexico and Latin America there is a beautiful custom when the community mourns the death of their special leaders who fought long and hard for a more just society. They recite a litany of names of men and women, lay persons, priests and religious women who have given their lives for the cause of justice and peace. Their response to each name brings a rousing response from the community of Presente.

This response of Presente symbolizes most vividly the way in which the spirit of those individuals continues to thrive in the community, and the commitment of the community to continue the struggle which those leaders’ lives embodied.

Today we celebrate the fullness of Cesar’s life. But we also celebrate a renewed commitment to embrace the values he held so dear and for which he was unwilling to compromise. To the longtime cry of Huelga! we must now add Presente! as we continue forward with the work that Cesar initiated over 30 years ago.

As we celebrate this Eucharist of new life in Christ, of new hope in the power of God’s grace, and of our renewed dedication to the works of justice and peace for all farm workers and their families, we now add to that special litany of prophetic heroes Cesar Chavez. And we all respond with faith and with fervor: “Presente!”