No Christmas celebration in Palestine – a powerful political sermon
JVL Introduction
It is the first time we have published a Christian sermon but this sermon from Reverend Dr. Munther Isaac was at least as much a political speech in which he condemned both western political leaders and also church leaders for their silence, for the racism and lack of humanity. He has no interest in those who will speak afterwards.
He powerfully indicts church leaders for using the scriptures as a cover for genocide. “Silence is complicity” he argues and he reminds us that Gaza was hell before October 7th.
In his calm voice that does nothing to conceal a near visceral anger he says of those who have not even called for a ceasefire: “I feel sorry for you. We (Palestinians LL) will be ok. Despite the immense blow we have endured, we will recover. We will rise and stand up again from the midst of destruction, as we have always done as Palestinians, although this is by far the biggest blow we have received in a long time.
But again, for those who are complicit, I feel sorry for you. Will you ever recover from this? ”
The transcript is below and you can hear his moving delivery within the link (from 28′ 25″ until 46′ 0″) This is preceded by a short speech by a South African priest who has come, with others, in solidarity.
LL
This article was originally published by Red Letter Christians on Sat 23 Dec 2023. Read the original here.
Christ in the Rubble: A Liturgy of Lament
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So true and so brave. Thank you for sharing this powerfully honest sermon. I hope the archbishop of Canterbury has heard it!
The sad fact is there are very few Christians in leadership positions in the world. Some may nominally claim to be Christian, but their actions do not reflect Christian teaching. The current Pope in his present phase is one exception.
What I believe has happened is that money now over-rides the actions of politicians and their supposed beliefs fall by the wayside.
A few years ago, I spoke with a leading economist who had been giving a talk about forgiveness of debt, The question of interest payments came into it. In the past, interest payments were not allowed, but over time, they have crept in and fiddling by financiers enables them to extract vast amount of value, without themselves doing anything constructive physically.
I suggested to the economist that, perhaps, interest payments should become illegal. I got the reply that we should keep quiet, or we would be had up for anti-semitism.
I won’t go on about how to run a modern economy, but what we’ve got is grossly unequal, over-produces frivolous goods for the rich, when much of the world is in poverty, and is not based on love, which was Christ’s message to the world. Love God and love your neighbour.
Liberation Theology at its most eloquent
Lully, lullah, thou little tiny child, Bye bye, lully, lullay. Thou little tiny child, Bye bye, lully, lullay.
O sisters too, how may we do For to preserve this day This poor youngling for whom we sing, “Bye bye, lully, lullay”?
Herod (Netanyahu) the king, in his raging, Chargèd he hath this day His men of might in his own sight All young children to slay.
That woe is me, poor child, for thee And ever mourn and may For thy parting neither say nor sing, “Bye bye, lully, lullay
Yes, it is powerful and very moving and made me think several times while listening, ‘ashamnu, bogadnu’. ‘Where was God?’ was asked during the Judeocide and wider holocaust and many times later. I wonder if it’s easier (or the reverse) for a Jewish atheist like me — atheists don’t have a problem over theodicy. I’m glad I heard Dr Isaac’s sermon, I’m surprised it’s meant so much to me. Politically of course he’s completely right. Stop the genocide now! And freedom for all between river and sea. Thank you JVL, for posting this.
This is the most powerful and beautiful thing I’ve read for a very long time. I was moved to tears. But what use are my tears?
While the Reverend Issac forcefully condemns the Western government’s complicity Israel’s attacks on the Palestinian people in Gaza, resulting in a mounting number of deaths, chronic and acute deprivation — manifested in shortages of food, drinking water, fuel, electricity and medical supplies — and the displacement of almost 2 million, his message unfortunately does not adequately acknowledge the breath and depth of support from civil society in the United States and the UK (the strongest allies of Israel) in many cases from the Jewish community from the two countries.
Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez interview Dr Isaac at
http://tinyurl.com/4wbm57tt The interview is preceded by a broadcast of the entire sermon.
Thank you for courageous and passionate words that penetrate the impossible gloom. As a Christian from the ‘liberal evangelical left’ it resonates with my soul. If the Christian church looses its ministry of love, justice and servanthood, it loses its reason for being. If it loses its understanding of evil ( I make no apologies for using the term ) it makes a mockery of concepts such as ‘salt of the earth’ and ‘light of the world’.
Thank you and my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Thank you for publishing this beautiful and powerful message. Solidarity with all Palestinians .