wfn.org | Lutheran Bishop of Jerusalem Issues Easter Appeal

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For more information contact:
George Awad
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jerusalem
Muristan Road, Old City, Jerusalem
Tel: 972.2.627-6111
Email: ga_elcj@netvision.net.il

JERUSALEM, April 11, 2001.  The Very Rev. Munib Younan, bishop of the 
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jerusalem, today issued an Easter message and 
appeal.   The full text follows:

Easter 2001 

Salaam and Grace in the name of our Crucified and Risen Lord, Jesus Christ. 

As I write this message of Easter, I really do not know where to start, lest 
somebody will ask me: "What is the truth?" 

It seems that the truth lies beyond the thoughts of our hearts and beyond the 
mass media.  When Jesus was indicted on Maundy Thursday, the truth lay in 
that he was the Messiah, the Lamb of God, who came to carry the sin of the 
world. 

Here many incidents take place everyday.  It is in every minute that things 
change.  The situation is very unpredictable.  The other day, I visited 
Hebron with Peter Prove (of the Lutheran World Federation), Kent Johnson (of 
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America), and Gustaf Odquist (of the 
Lutheran Church in Sweden).    We were generously hosted by one of the Moslem 
Sheiks, a close friend of mine.  We were shocked to see the real picture of 
the truth.   An Israeli settler woman was throwing stones on Palestinian 
shopkeepers while the Israeli army was leniently asking her not to do so.  At 
the same time, other soldiers nearby were shooting live ammunition on 
Palestinian youth.  I ask: What is the truth?   Is this justice?   Where is 
at least the Christian conscience? 

The situation continues to deteriorate day by day.  The Israeli siege on the 
Palestinian territories is tightening.  You need only to pass in the morning 
near my house in Tantur and watch the police and soldiers running after 
Palestinian laborers, who search for their daily bread, and witness the 
realities behind the UN statistics stating that the present unemployment rate 
in the Palestinian areas is now around 38% of the working force. 

We hear a language of war that vacillates between self-restraint to no 
restraint at all, but for us Palestinians, in Bethlehem, Gaza, Ramallah, or 
Beit Sahour, the use of the language does not change the realities of what we 
are experiencing.   We see massive damage being done to buildings, hotels, 
and banks, and many homes demolished.   All this destruction is creating more 
hatred, more fear, more revenge, more traumas and more death.  

If you ask yourself, why should all this be?   I have no answer, except the 
details of the stories of the Holy week of suffering.  Some thought, that 
they could kill the truth by coercive power.  Others thought, that the 
imposition of a distorted public opinion could change the absolute truth. 
Some thought by walking with the Truth, whatever the costs may be, you would 
be liberated by the Truth. 

This is our Palestinian story; only truth and justice will liberate both 
Palestinians and Israelis to see the real truth.  The truth may oblige us to 
carry the cross and be crucified on Golgotha, but the crucifixion and 
humiliation and the power of live ammunition can never kill the truth of 
justice or reconciliation that gets its glory in the Risen Lord. 

It is true that the Palestinian Church is now a church that carries the 
cross.   Or better, we are the church of real martyria.   For this reason, 
our witness is a witness for love, for the just peace, for the non-violent 
struggle for the truth, and for equitable just co-existence between 
Palestinians and Israelis. 

The Church of the martyria is the Church that seriously carries the cross 
whatever the price might be, because it is the follower of its crucified Lord 
and master. 

As I angrily watched the television, after having been humiliated at Ben 
Gurion airport for three consecutive times in a month (even to the extent 
that my humanity was being denied by a young female Israeli security person), 
I saw the Israeli army demolishing a Palestinian home in Jerusalem.  I was 
then very impressed to learn that one of our dialogue partners, Rabbi Arik 
Ashermann, of Rabbis for Human Rights, slept in front of the Israeli machines 
to stop them from demolishing the house.  He was then handcuffed and detained 
by the police.  I spoke with him the next day congratulating him for his 
brave action.  

I mention this because we know that there are many Israelis of good will, who 
know that the future does not lie in hatred and suppressing the Palestinians 
but in defending equal human, civil, religious and political rights for all. 

It is sad to note that the voices of these Israelis are hardly heard at all 
in the present time of crisis. Now is the time for the destructive voices of 
the extremists of both sides.  Their language of violence and death is what 
people hear, and hatred and fear is on the increase.  

Let me mention one prominent example of this.  Yesterday we heard Rabbi 
Obadia Yosef, the Sephardic Chief Rabbi in Israel, say in a sermon broadcast 
via satellite to tens of thousands of households: "Those evil Arabs...don't 
pity them.  They should be destroyed with missiles, with a free hand."   
Surely, such statements in favor of genocide are an indication of the depth 
of the crisis in which we live. 

For this reason, from our Golgotha, we urge all people of good will, not only 
to write statements, but also to activate their governments and leaders to 
implement United Nation Resolutions 242, 338, and 194.  There is no longer 
time for anyone to remain only a spectator.  All voices must be raised, and 
all appropriate action taken to have these resolutions implemented, and 
thereby secure the welfare of all people in the Holy Land.   The movement 
towards an Apartheid state must be stopped. 

In this time of crisis, we very much appreciate all signs of support and 
concern that we receive from our partners and friends around the world.   We 
are grateful for receiving delegations who come to express their solidarity 
with us.  We would be pleased to welcome more such visitors.  It is also a 
joy for us to receive short-time voluntary workers, whose presence among us 
is a sign of solidarity and support. At present, we are pleased to have The 
Rev. Kent Johnson and Ms. Stephanie Saenger from the Evangelical Lutheran 
Church in America here with us. 

It is of great importance for us to know that our partner churches, as well 
as individual Christians in many places, are keeping us in their constant 
prayers.  We are encouraged by the fact that Prayer Vigil Services for just 
and lasting peace in the Middle East are being held daily in congregations 
and churches in U.S.A., Sweden, Norway, Germany, and Congo.  Please continue 
to pray for us, for Palestinians and Israelis, and for just peace and 
reconciliation in the land of Resurrection.  

May the Risen Lord renew our Hope, and fill your Easter with Life and Joy. 

Christ is Risen - Truly He is Risen! 

Your brother in Christ, 

Munib A. Younan 
Lutheran Bishop in Jerusalem