Easter Message from the Rt. Rev. Munib Younan, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, Jerusalem
Easter Message from the Rt. Rev. Munib Younan, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, Jerusalem
Hope renewed after visit with the women to the tomb
Easter message, April 2009
Bishop Dr. Munib A. Younan
And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. (Mark 16:2)
In a world of great disparity, something unusual is happening – rich and poor alike are in despair. The events of the day – the world-wide economic crisis, global climate change, the bombardment of Gaza, the instability in Pakistan, the bush fires in Australia, the earthquake in Italy, the rash of shootings in the U.S., the rising levels of poverty – these occurrences have united all in a sense of despair that might have been something like Mary, Mary Magdalene and Salome felt. They approached the tomb that day with a sense of having buried their reason for hope.
For these three women, Christ’s triumphal entry of Palm Sunday has turned into the gloom of Good Friday. The adoring crowds less than one week before have scattered, and a handful of women, whose love for Jesus is undiminished by his death, are left to offer one last sign of respect for their fallen leader and to bury with him their fallen hope.
As I sit in my office in Jerusalem, people run to share with me news of hopelessness. Some of our members approach me asking, “We’re losing our rights to live in Jerusalem. What will the church do as Jerusalem has fewer and fewer Christians?” As I move through the city streets, the merchants ask me, “Did you hear that 88 houses in Silwan are scheduled for demolition? Did you hear that settlements are expanding? What do the world’s churches say about this?” Some ask, “Will there ever be peace based on justice with economic development? Will Israel ever give us land so all can live in peace?” Others say, “Israelis have their own state. Why do they continue to live in fear? Is this what motivates them to elect politicians who promise to answer their fear with more oppression of Palestinians?” One of my Jewish friends said to me, “Yes, we understand this fear in Gaza. But can you also understand the fear of many Israelis in the south who fear rockets from Gaza?” As I watched the bombardment of Gaza earlier this year, my heart was deeply troubled. “Do not all three monotheistic recognize that God has called life sacred? Is this sanctity of life not only for one people but also those who might be called political enemies?”