Easter in Jerusalem: ‘We are not trapped in the tomb, not even in Gaza’

Cardinal Pizzaballa's homily in front of Jesus' empty tomb. “The world has a poor, even offensive idea of peace: too many promises have been betrayed and broken. Our Church must oppose the human logic of power, the dynamics of violence and war with the dynamics of life, justice and forgiveness.” Yesterday, tensions between Orthodox faithful and Israeli police over restrictions on access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews) - ‘Following Jesus, even in our most difficult trials, is the most compelling thing there is. Even though there are many problems and difficulties afflicting us, nothing keeps us locked in our tombs. There is nothing more beautiful than living with the Risen Christ, even today, everywhere and despite everything: in Jerusalem, in Bethlehem, in Nazareth, in Amman, in Nicosia and even in Gaza.’

Yet another Easter is marked by war and its toll of death in the Holy Land. But for its Christians, even here death cannot have the last word. This is the message that Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, wanted to convey to his community this morning in his homily during Easter Mass presided over in front of the ‘empty tomb’ in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre.

This year, Easter was also shared on the same day with the Orthodox world, which represents the majority of Christians in the Holy Land. However, yesterday it also became an occasion for new tensions with the Israeli authorities: in the name of ‘security measures’ applied with extreme rigidity, Minister Ben Gvir's police prevented hundreds of faithful from entering the basilica for the deeply felt ceremony of the Holy Fire.

But the message of liberation of Easter breaks through all the wounds of war to bring its proclamation of peace ‘not as the world gives it’, writes the evangelist John.

‘We have seen how the world argues, thinks and evaluates. And how poor the world’s idea of peace is, dare I say even offensive!’ reflects Patriarch Pizzaballa in his homily.

’We have seen too often how proclamations of peace have been betrayed and insulted. The Church will have to build the peace that is the fruit of the Spirit who gives life and confidence, again and again and tirelessly. And which counters the human logic of power, the dynamics of violence and war, with a dynamic of life, justice and forgiveness..’

‘We are the Church of Golgotha, it is true,’ continues the cardinal. ’We are the Church of Golgotha, that is true. However, the Crucified Christ is not only a symbol of suffering, but above all of love and forgiveness. Therefore, we want to be the Church of love, which never sleeps, which is constantly vigilant, which has the ability to forgive and give life, always, unconditionally’The Church will have to build the peace that is the fruit of the Spirit who gives life and confidence, again and again and tirelessly. And which counters the human logic of power, the dynamics of violence and war, with a dynamic of life, justice and forgiveness.'

For the Patriarch of Jerusalem, proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus ’is not optional. ‘And it is our responsibility,’ he warns, ’to do so not only even when death surrounds us, but especially when death surrounds us. It is here and now, in our specific context, that we are called to say who we are and to whom we belong. To say with strength and determination that we are not afraid, that we will continue to be the small remnant that makes a difference: building relationships, opening closed doors, breaking down walls of division.’

This does not mean isolating ourselves or closing our eyes to the harsh reality of the Holy Land today. ‘We have no illusions,’ explains Cardinal Pizzaballa. ‘We know what is happening among us and in the world, and we do not have much hope in the ability of those in power to find solutions, which unfortunately seem to be ever more distant. And we cannot but express our concern about a possible further deterioration of the political situation and the worsening humanitarian catastrophe that is unfolding, especially in Gaza. I am thinking in particular of our small community, which for many months has become a sign and symbol of solidarity and hope, a small boat anchored to life, in a sea of pain and suffering.’

But in this ‘Way of the Cross that never ends’, it is ‘the mothers, the Veronicas, the Simons of Cyrene’ who offer ‘gestures of dignity and care, our way of proclaiming life and resurrection’. ‘It is not about being naïve and visionary. It is about having faith, firmly believing that God is guiding history. Despite the smallness of human beings, God will not allow the world to be lost. “I did not come to condemn the world, but to save it” (John 12:47). Even if it seems to us that we are still on the Via Dolorosa, we know that the end is here, at the encounter with the empty Tomb of Christ. And this certainty always accompanies us.’