When we have an ear to the people, we then hear the words of the Gospel.

There is a wealth of wisdom to be gleaned from the unique perspectives of Oscar Romero, Thomas Merton, and Joseph Cardijn.

First, many people are not very familiar with them, even in Catholic circles, such as those in the pew who live day-to-day, trying to survive—the non-academics in our world.

All three men are studied in the world of academics and among active people engaged in Praxis. This term refers to the practical application of a theory, especially in a political or social context.

But do we hear the cry of the poor? The marginalized? Those just trying to pay the bills?

In Latin America, the saying that "when you name a person a saint, you kill the saint" reflects a cultural perspective where reverence for a person can be challenged or diminished, often by the mere academic study of the person. We lose sight of the mission.

Merton, Romero, and Cardijn understood the meaning of a saying in Latin America, the principle of having "one ear to the Gospel and one ear to the People." This principle, emphasized by Bishop Enrique Angelelli, teaches that a bishop should listen to both the teachings of the Gospel and the needs of the community, balancing spiritual guidance with practical support. And we all should listen as well.

Through the voices of these men, we have learned about the nature of modern catholic social teachings through the preferential option for the poor. In the United States, we need to have an ear to the contributions of Latin America and an understanding of Black Catholics in America to see the working of the message of Vatican II, most especially Gaudium et Spes.

An ear to the people is to understand popular movements of the people, as Pope Francis often did, and to recognize that with an ear to Latin America, we can have political movements without being partisan, which means being biased or prejudiced towards a particular political party. Understanding what it means to be political, as was Jesus, and as were Merton, Romero, and Cardijn, and leave the partisan baggage at home.

We start as they did, not by approaching the problems from a partisan perspective, but from a deep understanding and commitment to the common good for all human beings.

When we have an ear to the people, we then hear the words of the Gospel.