"Sermon for Gaza: The Call to Resistance and Faith in the Face of Oppression"

"Sermon for Gaza: The Call to Resistance and Faith in the Face of Oppression"

In the conflicts I covered as a reporter in various regions of the world, I encountered remarkable individuals who defied oppressors on behalf of the oppressed. These individuals, despite their differences, shared common traits such as a commitment to truth, courage, empathy, and a hatred of violence. They are the most remarkable men and women I met in my career as a foreign correspondent, and I set my life by their standards. Some of them, like Vaclav Havel or Ignacio Ellacuria, are well-known, but many are forgotten or unknown.

To resist radical evil is to endure a life that may be seen as a failure by society. It means defying injustice at the cost of one's career, reputation, and even life. It means being a lifelong heretic and accepting that the dominant culture will push you to the margins. I experienced this firsthand when I was booed off a stage and publicly reprimanded for denouncing the invasion of Iraq. Colleagues I had known for years distanced themselves from me, not wanting to be associated with my views.

Ruling institutions, including the state, press, church, courts, and universities, may claim to uphold morality, but they often serve the structures of power. Throughout history, these institutions have been complicit in acts of radical evil, from the genocide of native Americans to slavery, witch hunts, and apartheid. The most courageous individuals who resist such evil are often purged and turned into pariahs.

The theologian James Cone wrote about the paradoxical nature of the cross, a symbol of hope and liberation for oppressed blacks. It represents a divine presence that empowers them to believe in a future where they will not be defeated by suffering. This paradoxical faith requires humility and repentance, rejecting the pride and arrogance of those who seek to rule over others. The cross serves as God's critique of power, using powerless love to snatch victory from defeat.

Reinhold Niebuhr referred to this capacity to defy repression as a "sublime madness in the soul." It is a dangerous but vital quality that is necessary to combat injustice. Traditional liberalism, he argued, is ineffective in moments of extremity because it lacks the enthusiasm and fanaticism required to challenge the status quo.

The Hebrew prophets embody this sublime madness, as they proclaimed a message that went against the expectations of their time. They saw and faced an unpleasant reality and were compelled to proclaim the opposite of what their hearts expected. This madness is essential for a life of resistance, as it requires standing with the oppressed even when it means being treated as the oppressed. It requires seeing ourselves in the suffering of others and taking action.

Faith, according to the Catholic priest Daniel Berrigan, is the belief that the good draws to it the good. It is about doing good and letting go, trusting that it will go somewhere even if we don't know where. It is better to suffer wrong than to do wrong, as Socrates believed, and we must come to a place where we prioritize justice over personal comfort or security.

Hannah Arendt wrote that true moral integrity lies not in saying "this is wrong" but in saying "I can't." It is about recognizing that justice is fundamental to the meaning of human life and that if it perishes, life loses its meaning. This requires overcoming despair not through reason but through faith.

In the conflicts I covered, I witnessed the power of faith that transcends religious or philosophical creeds. This faith, or living in truth as Vaclav Havel called it, exposes the corruption and deceit of the state. It is a refusal to be part of the charade. James Baldwin, a former preacher, abandoned the pulpit to preach the Gospel, recognizing that the true message of the Gospel is often unheard in traditional houses of worship.

The church, as an institution, has often failed to uphold the true message of the Gospel. It has become entangled with power and politics, losing sight of its purpose to affirm the dignity of the oppressed. The true church exists among those who demand justice, who embody the Beatitudes and stand with the poor in spirit, the meek, the persecuted, and the peacemakers.

Jesus himself, if he lived in our contemporary society, would be undocumented. He would be a person of color living under oppression, just as he was during Roman occupation. The Romans, like the American state, viewed him as an insurrectionist and a threat to their power. The Bible unequivocally condemns the powerful and was written for the powerless, to give them a voice and affirm their dignity.

Faith is not easy. It requires smashing the idols that enslave us and dying to the world. It demands self-sacrifice and resistance. It calls us to see ourselves in the suffering of others and to act. It separates us from the familiar and forces us to confront the uncomfortable. It recognizes that once we feel the suffering of others, we cannot remain silent.

In conclusion, here are three actionable advice for those seeking to live a life of resistance and faith:

1. Embrace the Sublime Madness: Embrace the courage and enthusiasm required to challenge the status quo. Be willing to endure the consequences of resisting radical evil, even if it means being marginalized or ostracized by society.

2. Reject the Charade: Refuse to be a part of the lies and deceit perpetuated by ruling institutions. Stand with the oppressed and expose the corruption of the state. Live in truth and refuse to be silenced or complicit in the face of injustice.

3. Cultivate Faith: Cultivate a faith that draws you to the good and empowers you to take action. Trust that your actions, no matter how small, have the potential to make a difference. Let go of personal comfort and security in the pursuit of justice.

Ultimately, the call to resistance and faith is a call to stand with the oppressed, to see ourselves in their suffering, and to take action in the face of radical evil. It is a call to reject the oppressive systems of power and to embrace a vision of justice and liberation. As we answer this call, we honor the legacy of those who came before us and pave the way for a more just and compassionate world.