"Sermon for Gaza: A Call to Resistance and Faith in the Face of Injustice"

"Sermon for Gaza: A Call to Resistance and Faith in the Face of Injustice"

In the conflicts I covered as a reporter in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and the Balkans, I encountered remarkable individuals who defied oppression on behalf of the oppressed. These individuals, regardless of their cultural differences, shared common traits such as a commitment to truth, courage, and empathy. They are the unsung heroes who inspire us to resist radical evil and fight for justice.

Among these courageous figures, some are well-known, like Vaclav Havel, who played a prominent role in the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia. Others, like the Jesuit priest Iganacio Ellacuria, who was gunned down by death squads in El Salvador, are lesser-known but no less remarkable. And then there are the ordinary people who risked their lives to protect those persecuted in times of war. To some of these ordinary people, I owe my own life.

Resisting radical evil often means living a life that society deems a failure. It requires defying injustice at the cost of one's career, reputation, financial stability, and even life itself. It means accepting that the dominant culture and its institutions will marginalize and discredit you. I experienced this firsthand when I was booed off a stage and reprimanded by my own newspaper for denouncing the invasion of Iraq.

Institutions that claim to uphold morality often serve the structures of power. They collaborate with radical evil through silence or active participation. History has shown us this complicity during the genocide against Native Americans, slavery, McCarthyism, civil rights movements, anti-apartheid efforts, and more. The courageous individuals who resist such evil are often purged and ostracized.

In his book "The Cross and the Lynching Tree," theologian James Cone explores the paradoxical nature of the cross as a religious symbol. For oppressed blacks, the cross represented hope in the face of suffering and death. It was a manifestation of God's loving and liberating presence in their lives. Believing in this paradox required humility and repentance, rejecting the pride and power that seek to dominate others.

Reinhold Niebuhr referred to the capacity to defy repression as a "sublime madness in the soul." This madness, he argued, is necessary to battle malignant power and spiritual wickedness. Traditional liberalism, he believed, lacked the necessary enthusiasm and fanaticism to effect real change in history. The prophets of the Hebrew Bible also exemplified this sublime madness, speaking uncomfortable truths in the face of opposition.

Living in truth, as Czech playwright Vaclav Havel described it, is the act of refusing to be part of the charade perpetuated by corrupt systems. It involves exposing the lies and deceit of the state, even when it goes against the dominant narrative. James Baldwin, a former preacher, abandoned the pulpit to preach the true Gospel, recognizing that it was often absent from mainstream Christian worship.

Faith, according to Catholic priest Daniel Berrigan, is the belief that goodness attracts goodness. It is a trust that the good we do, no matter how small, has a positive impact. It requires us to let go of the outcomes and focus on doing what is right. It is through faith that we can overcome fear and despair and find the strength to act.

Hannah Arendt reminds us that true moral integrity lies not in simply saying "this is wrong," but in having the courage to say "I can't." We must be willing to suffer wrong rather than perpetrate it. We must see and act, surmounting despair not through reason, but through faith. The only way to preserve the meaning of human life on earth, as Immanuel Kant wrote, is to uphold justice.

The church, as Dr. Jin emphasizes in her presentation, is not confined to physical buildings but resides wherever justice is demanded. It is with those who work for justice and embody the Beatitudes. Jesus, were he alive today, would be undocumented, a person of color living without rights under occupation. The Romans saw Jesus as a threat, just as the American state saw Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. Prophets throughout history have been crucified for challenging oppressive systems.

The Bible itself condemns the powerful and champions the cause of the oppressed. It was written to give voice to those crushed by malignant power and empire. It challenges us to smash the idols that enslave us, to die to the world, and to sacrifice ourselves for our neighbors. It demands resistance and calls us to see ourselves in the suffering of others.

Dr. Jin's presentation offers a unique perspective on China's economic landscape and the importance of understanding beyond media narratives. She highlights the complexities and challenges of state intervention in the economy, urging us to rise above ideological biases. She calls for open dialogue and understanding between nations, emphasizing the need for collaboration and cooperation.

The call to resistance and faith in the face of injustice is not limited to a specific context or region. It transcends religious and philosophical differences. It requires us to stand together, honoring and respecting our differences while finding hope and strength in our common commitment to justice.

Before concluding, here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Embrace the sublime madness in your soul: Challenge oppressive systems and speak uncomfortable truths, even when it goes against the dominant narrative. Be prepared to face opposition and marginalization.

2. Live in truth: Refuse to be part of the charade perpetuated by corrupt systems. Expose lies and deceit, even if it means going against the grain.

3. Cultivate faith: Trust that the good you do has a positive impact, even if you can't see the immediate results. Let go of outcomes and focus on doing what is right.

In a world filled with radical evil and injustice, it is our duty to resist. Like the prophets of old and the unsung heroes throughout history, we are called to bear the cross and stand with the oppressed. We must be willing to suffer wrong rather than do wrong. It is through faith, resistance, and a commitment to justice that we can create a better world for all. Amen.