wfn.org | Jerusalem Patriarchs See Hope in Midst of Despair

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Contact:  Fr. Raed Awad Abusahlia
P.O.Box 14152  Jerusalem  91141
Tel.  (972 2) 628.2323 / 627.2280
Fax  (972 2) 627.1652
Personal E-mail: nonviolence@writeme.com
Latin Patriarchate E-mail: Latinpat@actcom.co.il
Latin Patriarchate's Homepage: http://www.Lpj.org
"Nonviolence Homepage": http://go.to/nonviolence

JERUSALEM, April 6, 2001--The Patriarchs and Bishops of the historic churche=
s=20
in this Holy City have addressed a message of hope to the members of their=20
congregations scattered across Israel and Palestine.

In what is becoming increasingly common in days that they acknowledge are=20
filled with "deep despair," these church leaders speak with a single voice t=
o=20
their own faithful and to Christians around the world. =20

The message of the Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant leaders is both deeply=20
spiritual and urgently contemporary.  The full text follows:

Common Easter Message=20
by Their Beatitudes the Patriarchs=20
and Their Excellencies the Heads of the Churches=20
of Jerusalem=20

=E2=80=9CChrist is risen=E2=80=9D (Luke 24:1-52).=20

Jesus, Lord and Saviour, has risen today, just as He had foretold His=20
apostles.  =E2=80=9CThey will put Him to death, and on the third day He will=
 rise=20
again=E2=80=9D (Matthew 17:23).=20

Indeed, after the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Churches=
=20
of Jerusalem witness with one voice and one heart to the glory of His=20
Resurrection as they rejoice in the hope and strength that comes from that=20
empty tomb in the heart of our Holy City.=20

Before bearing the cross Himself, Jesus had called upon His disciples to=20
carry the cross and follow Him.  He had asked them to walk the narrow path=20
that leads toward salvation.  This double vision of the cross and the=20
Resurrection applies to the situation in which we find ourselves today.=20

Our suffering and fear in the past few months has increased in view of the=20
uncertainty of the political situation.  We reassure each and every one of=20
our sons and daughters that we share the pain of every family that is=20
deprived of hope as they go through their daily lives without jobs and incom=
e=20
or are exposed physically and psychologically to the painful measures that=20
are imposed upon them. =20

Although the closures that are sealing most of the Palestinian territories=20
bring days of deep despair, we ought to remain committed to hope.  =E2=80=
=9CI call=20
heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you lif=
e=20
and death, blessing and curses.  Choose life so that you and your descendant=
s=20
may live=E2=80=9D (Deuteronomy 30:19).=20

In this cycle of struggle and suffering, we detect also the way of the cross=
=20
that will ultimately lead toward the glory of the Resurrection.  Thus=20
celebrating Easter means the restoration of our hope that victory of life=20
over death also will be witnessed in the troubled land of ours.=20

This will only happen when violence and discrimination give way for a real=20
peace, between the =E2=80=98two peoples and the three religions=E2=80=99 of=20=
this small land=20
where God chose to reveal His divine will.  Such a peace can only be secured=
=20
through mutual reconciliation based on the respect for the dignity and value=
=20
God has given to all human beings. =20

In no way can this peace be imposed by sheer force: it is nurtured by an=20
honest application of justice and mercy in line with internationally accepte=
d=20
legitimate resolutions for the benefit of the weaker part. Therefore, all of=
=20
us, who claim faith in the Living God who has overcome death and sin, are=20
called today to witness and work with steadfast determination and persistent=
=20
commitment.  The words of the prophet=20
Isaiah come fittingly to mind:  "See the former things have come to pass and=
=20
new things I now declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them=E2=80=
=A6(Isaiah=20
42:9)=20

God speaks to us of a time in which the relationship of creation with the=20
Creator is restored, justice is the benchmark of every nation, and the light=
=20
of redemption shines in the deepest corners of despair.=20

As all the Churches of Jerusalem celebrate the paschal festivities together=20
this first year of the new millenium, they also affirm that the experience o=
f=20
Easter is one of liberation.  It is a triumph of life over death, of peace=20
over violence.  Looking at the One God who manifested His power over=20
servitude and death, we address all secular and political authorities to=20
welcome into their hearts the good will and good faith that builds new=20
generations with renewed hope and sustained confidence.=20

Today, we ask our faithful in the Holy Land as well as all believers=20
world-wide to share with us in the transformation of hearts and minds so tha=
t=20
the true joy that comes with the Risen Lord can also infuse their own lives.=
 =20

We pray for an end to the unjustifiable deaths that plague our societies. We=
=20
pray for the immediate end of all collective punishments, especially for the=
=20
lifting of the closures of Palestinians towns and villages.  We pray for the=
=20
good will of Palestinians and Israelis =E2=80=93 of Jews, Christians and Mus=
lims=20
alike =E2=80=93 in actively working for justice and peace.  We pray for equa=
lity so=20
that one no longer sees the neigbour as an enemy but rather as a brother or=20
sister with whom to build a new society. =20

Ours is a message of hope and compassion, of reconciliation and joy.   To=20
all, we affirm that Easter is the time to become one voice and one heart=20
before the Lord so that =E2=80=9Cwe may come to know Him and the power of th=
e=20
Resurrection=E2=80=9D (Philippians 3:10) in a genuine, just and comprehensiv=
e peace=20
that no longer disparages one God-given life over another.=20

Our Christian message remains constant year in year out. Life conquers death=
,=20
and love defeats hatred.  Hope tramples desolation, joy overcomes despair an=
d=20
peace ends violence.  So let us all proclaim together: =E2=80=9CWhere, o dea=
th, is=20
your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?.. But thanks to God, who gives=
=20
us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ=E2=80=9D (1Corinthians 15:55.57=
).=20

The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed.=20

                                       =20
(Signed by the  the Heads of the thirteen traditional=20
Churches in Jerusalem:=20

+   Archimandrite Cornelius: =20
    Locum Tenens, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate=20

+   Patriarch Michel Sabbah:=20
    Latin Patriarchate.=20

+   Patriarch Torkom II:=20
    Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Patriarchate.=20

+   Ignatius VIII Pierre Abdul-Ahad:=20
    Syrian Catholic Patriarch.=20

    Father Giovanni Battistelli:=20
    Custody of the Holy Land.=20

+   Anba Abraham:=20
    Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate.=20

+   Swerios Malki Mourad:  =20
    Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate.=20

+   Abba Gabriel:=20
    Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarchate.=20

+   Riah Abu Al-Assal:=20
    Episcopal Church of Jerusalem & the Middle East.=20

+   Mounib Younan:=20
    Lutheran Evangelical Church.=20

+   Maximus Sallum:=20
    Greek Catholic (Melkite) Patriarchal Exarchate.=20

+   Paul Nabil Sayyah:=20
    Maronite Patriarchal Exarchate.=20

+   Andr=C3=A9 Dikran Bedoghlyan:=20
    Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarcate.=20

-end-