La teología de la liberación en prospectiva - Noticias más vistas

and to expect and this multiple meaning is something that Gutiérrez usesin order to deepen his reflection.For Gutiérrez theology can be seen as a hermeneutic of hope. In an interviewGutiérrez explains what theology as a hermeneutic of hope means:“to proclaim hope today requires historic lucidity, firmness in the commitmentand courage in front of the difficulties”. 6 In another context he puts itlike this: “to give reason for hope is an essential part of the Christian testimony.Theology is put into this field; theology is always an interpretationof the motives we have to hope”. 7It is a hope that is not an “easy” hope, but a hope which despite beingfragile “is capable to sprout roots in the world of social insignificance, inthe world of the poor, and get excited (literally ‘to catch fire’) even in themidst of the difficult situations and thus keep going, alive and creative”.Yet to hope is not the same as just to wait for something to happen, “itshould direct us to actively forge reasons for hope”. 8Gutiérrez tries to find a sign of hope even in the most difficult situation.In a situation marked by poverty and premature death, Christian hopeis for him a force that can contribute to constructing something better thatis based on justice, peace and love:… if this situation is a source of preoccupation and anxiety, I would liketo say that it is simultaneously a source for a profound hope. This hope isnot an illusion since I am convinced of the enormous capacities and possibilitiesof the poor in our country. It is this hope, solidly sustained, thatnourishes my life. 9In his contacts with poor people Gutiérrez finds a lot of creativity in theirstruggle to survive, one of the factors that give him hope. He seems to beoptimistic, but once said in an interview that “more than an optimist, I ama person of hope”. 10What characterises Gutiérrez in his pastoral work is his intention tomeet people in their situation and in his writings to relate to the immediatecontext. By doing so he also says something that is relevant in a widercontext.6 Gutiérrez in de Cárdenas 2002, p. 28.7 Gutiérrez 2003, p. 39.8 Ibid., 2006, p. 16.9 Ibid., in Campos 1984.10 Ibid., in Balbi 1989.360 x Olle Kristenson