Cross-posting an Easter reflection from Jonathan Kuttab and Friends of Sabeel North America’s tribute to Pope Francis (source).
Artwork by Eva Carballeira Rabuñal for Friends of Sabeel North America
…Sunday is Coming
Easter Sunday, the Day of Resurrection, marks the glorious celebration of Hope, Revival, and Resurrection, of Spring after a long Winter. It is not an accident that it is marked with eggs, rabbits (symbols or rebirth and fecundity) and joyous celebration. Christians are said to be “people of the Resurrection,” as their master has conquered death, the final enemy, itself and rose again to proclaim a new day, where justice, liberty, and the values of the Kingdom of God defeat the forces of oppression, enslavement, repression and despair.
It is their faith in resurrection that has enabled Christians throughout the ages to stand against repression and despair and to proclaim that however dire the situation may appear (Friday) the forces of evil shall not have the last word; that God is ultimately sovereign in the affairs of people; that evil carries within itself the seeds of its own destruction; that no matter how dark the night might appear, the dawn of a new day will inevitably come.
This is an act of faith that often defies the depressing analysis of experts, pundits, and “realists.” It also defies traditional wisdom that can only see the surrounding gloom. The Easter greeting in all languages, “Christ is Risen,” is to be answered with the emphatic, “He is Risen Indeed.” This is not a false, soothing message enabling the weak to cope with an unbearable situation. Nor is it an empty, other-worldly expectation that in the afterlife they will somehow receive compensation for their earthly suffering and that the powerful oppressors will receive their just punishment. Instead, it is a powerful assertion that justice will prevail in this life and the oppression shall cease, here and now. The Magnificat (Mary’s prayer) as well as the Beatitudes herald the coming of the Kingdom of God and its values which up-end the values of the world, raising the humble and bringing down the haughty and the powerful. It is a prognosis not built on optimism, but Hope. Christ’s followers are urged to live here and now as members of the Kingdom of God, confident and assured in its ultimate triumph. It is such faith that enables them to persist in the darkest hours because of the knowledge that He holds the future and that Christ has already conquered death itself.
In our human frailty, however, we often surrender to despair, needing assurance that this is indeed true and that we are not simply deluding ourselves. As a student of history, I find great comfort in the fact that history is indeed replete with situations that appeared just as helpless as ours is today: that other empires, tyrants, and oppressive systems collapsed just when they seemed to be at the height of their power. Numerous instances of slavery, apartheid, colonialism, Stalinism, Hitler’s Nazism, and more, are in the dust bin of history, and numerous other powerful oppressors and tyrants have been defeated. The arch of history, however long, definitely bends towards justice.
As a Palestinian, I can see specific signs of hope helping us remember that however dismal things appear at the moment, the future will be different. One of these signs of hope is the steadfast solidarity of people, with no direct interest or personal gain, who at great risk to themselves are steadfast in their solidarity and support.
I think of Pope Francis who, despite the shameful silence and complicity of many in his Church, would call the church complex where Gazan Christians huddled for safety EVERY SINGLE DAY to pray with them and ask about their safety. He did this for over 500 consecutive days, even when he was in the ICU, until he passed away this Easter Sunday. His last public statements called for an end to the bombing in Gaza and the Ukraine. May his memory be blessed.
I think of our Jewish siblings in JVP, Not in Our Name, Breaking the Silence, Rabbis 4 Ceasefire, and other Jewish organizations who risk conflict with their friends and families to spearhead demonstrations and actions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the genocide.
I think of the Oscar artists who, despite the shameful hostility of the moguls of the entertainment industry, voted to award the Oscar for best documentary this year to the film “No Other Land,” documenting the ethnic cleansing of Masafer Yatta, made jointly by a Palestinian and Israeli film makers.
I think of those in the U.S. who continue to protest on college and university campuses facing threats of expulsion, dismissal, arrests and deportations, and who are facing the power of an organized campaign by donors, administrations, and federal and state officials.
I think of millions protesting all over the world and even here in the heart of the Empire against apartheid and genocide and demanding accountability.
I think of the unbelievable resilience of the Palestinian people and the heroic doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers, journalists, food providers and others continuing to work in the face of targeted assassinations and bombings.
I think of all of you who read these lines and of the FOSNA family and those in other organizations who continue your dedicated work, even when it seems that all those with power and influence are determined to silence you, punish you, and convince you that your efforts are futile.
And, I say to all of you that one day justice will prevail; the occupation will end; the genocide will cease, and apartheid, with its wall, its checkpoints and its dehumanizing structures, will fall. All God’s children in that tortured Holy land will be able to live together in freedom and equality. For me, as a Christian, this Hope is built on my faith and my understanding of God and the nature of the world he has created. It is my resurrection hope, and it is what I mean when I say Al Masseh Qam. Haqqan Qam.
Christ is Risen. He is Risen Indeed.
Statement On the Passing of Pope Francis
Friends of Sabeel North America, a Christian voice for Palestine in the United States, joins the world in mourning the death of His Holiness Pope Francis.
Pope Francis’ papacy was monumental not only for our Catholic supporters, but also for members of the FOSNA community across denominations, of many faiths and of none. Pope Francis’ consistent and unwavering support for a ceasefire in Gaza and his pleas to take “courageous paths to peace,” made him a beloved ally and leader to all Palestinians and their advocates everywhere.
Pope Francis joined world leaders in proclaiming a way of nonviolence and global diplomacy. He was committed to Gospel justice and peace. In his own words, “Without justice, there is no peace. Indeed, if justice is not respected, conflicts arise. Without justice, the law of the prevalence of the strong over the weak is entrenched.”
Pope Francis’ support of a just peace was grounded in a simple Christian conviction: the belief that “with war, everything is lost.”
Francis’ broader opposition to violence was also lived out in specific acts of solidarity. He urged global leaders to investigate genocide in Gaza. He denounced violence and war crimes. He called for an end to the famine and restriction of aid in Gaza. Remarkably, he called the Holy Family parish in Gaza every night as bombs rained down around the church they sought refuge in, and he continued to do so these past two years, as recently as Saturday night. On Sunday, his final Easter message was a call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
His Holiness’ wish was for peace in the world. We join Rev. Munther Isaac in asking: Will the millions who mourn [Francis’ death] these coming days respect this wish of his? Will they care for Gazans and Palestinians the way he did?”
Seeds Will Grow 
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