| by Jonathan Kuttab Spring is in the air. The daffodils are beginning to bloom, buds are sprouting on the trees, birds are chirping, and the weather is warming. It is no surprise that Easter season comes in the spring, with its promise of renewal and life after a long cold winter. For those of us concerned with peace and justice, it has been and continues to be a bitter cold winter. Occupation, genocide, apartheid, war and displacement seem to be firmly entrenched. Each day brings fresh examples of arrogant swagger displayed by the powerful, who act with cruelty and utter impunity. The genocide continues in Gaza, with no signs of abating. Pogroms and ethnic cleansing operations in the West Bank are reaching outrageous new heights every day. The invasion of Lebanon and forced displacement of its peoples is taking place while Israel openly proclaims that it is following the model of Rafah and Khan Yunis as they thoroughly depopulate 20% of Lebanese territory and seek to annex additional areas for Israel. Whole villages and towns, often with deep and ancient histories are being erased to the ground. Finally, the bombardment of Iran and the daily suffering and destruction it causes are now the order of the day. It is sad that the only consequence of that war that seems to interest Americans is the price of gas at their gas stations. The warmongers seem to reign supreme; they are acting as if there is no God, no international law, no restraints whatsoever on their power, and as if they can do whatever they wish with utter impunity. Not only are they violating international law and norms, but they are actively degrading the very architecture of the international order and attacking and sanctioning judges,prosecutors,organizations, and individuals who cooperate with international courts. The logic of unrestrained power in the Middle East is now also being adopted domestically in this country, from ICE to the Pentagon, as institutions are dismantled, traditional guardrails are removed, and brute force and intimidation are openly replacing proper orderly government. The new Minister of War struts around proclaiming divine sanction for the blatant bullying of others, while he mocks rules and regulations as “cowardly and unmanly.” Yet in the face of all that darkness, the message of Easter fills us with hope for a better future. Despite the deprivations of Lent, as we recall the sufferings of Holy Week and the agonies of the Passion, including the betrayal, capture and torturous death on the cross of Jesus and the dispersal, betrayal, and disappointment of the disciples, Jesus and his message were not defeated! This is confirmed to us by Jesus’ glorious resurrection and its message of the ultimate victory of good over evil. It is only by faith that we can manage to maintain such hope in the midst of so much misery, suffering and helplessness. Both in this country and in the Middle East, we are tempted to throw up our hands in despair as every day brings new outrages and even more examples of the failure of systems of law to safeguard and establish universal dignity, human rights, and humane policies. Yet, we cannot give up our hope. The story of the Resurrection creates a new paradigm, of hope in a better future and in the ultimate victory of good over evil. In the moment of greatest weakness for Jesus’ ministry, seemingly brought to a humiliating end as his disciples fled away in fear and the forces of Empire seemed to have achieved total victory over him, suddenly, the Resurrection happens. The Risen Christ moves to vanquish death itself ushering in a new regime that overturns the Empire of Death and the power of all those who revel in its violent ways. This message would sweep across the world with the Good News that still resonates today. This theological insight has sustained persecuted Christians throughout the centuries. It still fills us with hope today. Prime Minister Netanyahu recently declared that, in a struggle between Genghis Khan and Jesus Christ, only brute power matters and Jesus would lose. We are here to proclaim that Netanyahu is wrong. Jesus would and did prevail. Evil did not and would not have the last word. This is the truth we proclaim in the message of the resurrection repeated every Easter: Christ is Risen. He is Risen Indeed! As we prepare to celebrate Easter and the frost of winter gives way to the new life of spring, let us remember and, in the midst of all the suffering, boldly proclaim this message of Hope. |
