05/06/2024
Sermon Preached by Fr. Philip at the University of Chicago Gaza Solidarity Encampment.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
For the last ten weeks Orthodox Christians around the world, including Orthodox Christians living in Gaza and throughout Palestine, have been preparing for this day. Today is the celebration of Pascha – the celebration of what is often called Easter in the Western world. Over the past ten weeks, Orthodox Christians have prepared themselves by fasting, prayer, and acts of mercy for those who are suffering. And now we have arrived at the day of resurrection. It is a most joyous day of celebration, though this year the mood has been darkened as we bear witness to the Israeli government and the IDF’s ongoing genocidal war. I’m honored to be standing here, today of all days, with all of you who are raising your voice against the atrocities we are witnessing.
The beginning of this encampment last Monday coincided with the beginning of Holy Week for Orthodox Christians – the most sacred time on the calendar. Over the previous week, services have been offered every day (even multiple times a day), as we remember the final week of Jesus’ life and journey in remembrance with him to Jerusalem, Christ's passion, and his glorious resurrection.
Last Sunday we marked Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. It’s important to remember that Jesus did not merely enter the city of Jerusalem that day to the fanfare of the crowd and cries of Hosana. Jesus also entered the Temple where he overturned the money changers tables. This act aimed to challenge those who in God’s name were perverting God’s justice. It was perhaps this prophetic act that resulted in the final plot to arrest and kill Jesus.
On Friday, just a few days ago, Orthodox Christians remembered the Crucifixion of Jesus. By walking together with him through the final days of his life, Orthodox Christians participated by remembering the arrest, trial, abuse, scourging, mocking, and ultimately the death of Jesus. It is a most solemn day.
In reliving the events of the crucifixion, I was reminded of the wisdom of the Spanish Jesuit Priest and Theologian Ignacio Ellacuria who described all those suffering in unjust conditions throughout the world as 'el pueblo crucificado' – a crucified people. In other words, what Orthodox Christians throughout the world remembered and relived last Friday, is the present reality for countless people around the globe, especially those who are being crucified in Gaza and the West Bank.
What is the Christian response to a crucified people? The Jesuit theologian, Jon Sobrino, reminds us of our moral, spiritual, and religious obligation to work to take those who are being crucified down from their crosses – to put an end to all the powers and principalities that exert death-dealing dominion over others. When Orthodox Christians look upon the savior crucified on a cross, we witness an act of imperial violence meant to frighten and subdue a colonized people. The realities of colonial violence are still present with us today. The Cross stands as a clarion call to end all similar acts of colonial violence. I stand with you today as an Orthodox priest and I say CEASEFIRE NOW! End the occupation! Justice for all people of Palestine! Justice for all suffering people throughout the World!
Yet returning to today – to Christ’s great and holy Pascha. Today Orthodox Christians proclaim with great joy that Christ is risen! With that cry, we Orthodox Christians announce to all the death-dealing empires of this world that their weapons of death will not be the final word. The powers of this world tried to suppress Jesus and they ultimately succeeded in murdering the King of Glory, but that was not God’s final word. God’s final word was that even death itself would be defeated in the resurrection. The grave could not hold Christ. Hell itself cried out groaning when it encountered his presence. The joy of Pascha is victory over death and all who serve death. That is why Orthodox Christians shout: Christ is Risen! And that cry gives me hope that God will not allow death to have the final word in Gaza – for our God is the God of Life. Amen.
