BISHOPS IN METHODISM

 

Can we Passover the Easter Sunday attack of Sri Lanka?

On the 21^st of April, we mark the 2^nd year of the gruesome attack by Zaharan and his Islamic extremist group on 3 Churches and 3 hotels claiming the lives of 269 people, locals and foreigners and injuring about 500 people. Ever since then two successive governments have held investigative committees and commissions to determine and bring to light the masterminds and the reasons behind this attack. Very unfortunately up to the time of writing this article a satisfactory revelation has not been made. Though we know who physically carried out the attack and the authorities who neglected their responsibilities in preventing this attack, we have not been told who wanted it carried out and for what reasons - which seems to be top-secret. The Church has publicly expressed its disapproval and discontent for the sluggish and lacklustre manner the Government is behaving after the Presidential Commission report was published. Somebody seems to be hiding the information that is at his or her fingertips. Who will bring out the truth and when will that come to light? 

While we face the above-mentioned reality the general public needs to build up its impetus to demand justice and truth to prevail over the Easter Sunday attack. Unfortunately, we have allowed certain politicians to hijack the same which has made it become an unproductive exercise. The Parliament debates always lead to the blame game being played by the government and the opposition. It seems that the Easter Sunday attack has become the cause for one government to be removed from power and another to be established in power.

Finding Justice in this world is always a long struggle. It is never served on a gold platter. As a Christian, I reflect on the struggles for Justice found in the Bible and I firmly believe that it is the only source that we can trust when every other source we tapped has failed us as it is now. ”The justice of God is a central truth in the Bible. No one will escape from the justice of God. God knows all things. Nothing is hidden from Him. No one intimidates Him. No one has leverage against Him. Power and wealth count for nothing with Him. That means you can have confidence in the absolute justice of God.” I do not write this to give an opium effect on those who are in pain because of human injustice. Neither do I put it down because I feel that this is the last attempt we could make when everything else has failed.

If we are never told the truth as it has happened now, are we to give up the search for justice and truth? As the Easter attack directly affected the Christian community in Sri Lanka, the Church has to find ways through the scriptures and prayer so that the struggle for justice is not confined only to getting on the streets with protest marches and giving voice cuts to the media.

Let us not forget that the victims were subjected to this attack while they were worshipping the Risen Lord Jesus Christ, on the resurrection Sunday. While we highlight the gruesome attack and the injustice done to the victims and their survivors, how can the Church bring back the true meaning of the Lord's resurrection to inspire and support them? I am afraid that already a different understanding of Easter has come into the minds of both Christians and non-Christians of Sri Lanka since 2019. The Sri Lankans may come to think that Easter means Easter Sunday’s attack where so many lives have been lost. I sense that the Christian Community in Sri Lanka has forgotten its call to be witnesses to the Resurrection of Christ. The Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament reminds us that the “Little flock” of Christ had turned out to be a transformed and a transforming community after the resurrection of Jesus.  How can the present Church in Sri Lanka match the same?

The very essence of Easter is rooted in the Passover celebrated by Jews from the time of Moses and Jesus, who brought in the new meaning to the Passover meal by Memorializing his death. Both events face head-on the daunting power of death—and both announce God’s greater power of life and resurrection. Both events created a transformed and a transforming community through the PASSOVER experience.

 The time has come for the “Little Flock” in Sri Lanka to highlight our belief in the Passover than express our confidence in the rulers of this country whoever they may be. The black colour we may wear, the protest marches we walk are not going to soften the hardened hearts of the Pharos of our times. The indicators are clear that the present and future government(s)  will go on their political journey, ignoring and leaving behind those who cry for justice over the Easter Sunday attack. As a transformed and a transforming community we must now begin to rise and "Passover" the Eater Sunday attack 2019. Let the pharos meet with the “10^th plague and the Red Sea!!!".Remember it is God who said  “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.  So I have come down to rescue them ……” (Exodus 3: 7&8.) The Lord has now come down to make the victims, PASSOVER the pain and suffering of the Easter Sunday attack. The Christian Church in Sri Lanka is called upon to become the "MOSES" who will echo the voice of God saying "Let My People Go" – we must bring all victims to a process of making them “GO” beyond what took place 2 years ago. The Church has to effectively support the families who lost their loved ones to "GO" through the Journey of Grief instead of lingering in the place of "unresolved grief". The time factor will vary from person to person. But they must not experience "the beggar's wound" which is never healed because of some who prefer to keep them bound in the same so that their agendas could go on.

Over the media interviews and voice cuts of victims, survivors, families of the dead are brought to the screens in front of a nation seeking justice and truth, about which various views are being expressed. In all those what I sense is the inner cry of these persons wanting to “PASSOVER AND GO BEYOND” April 21^st 2019.   

According to Kübler-Ross, who has worked extensively on the grief journey, highlights the five stages of grieving that a person would go through as follows: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The reality we face today is some of them are still in denial; some are bottling up their anger and going into depression. There is definitely underlying feelings of anger and hurt in those who suffered towards the Muslim community. There is also a heavy burden in the hearts of the Muslim community in wanting to express solidarity with the victims, but fear of being misunderstood or rejected.   For all of them, the issue of knowing who is the mastermind is secondary. Even if the name is revealed they know that it will not bring back life to the dead nor replace a lost limb. Their need and the struggle is “HOW AM I TO COPE WITH THE LOSS?”; “ HOW CAN I GO BEYOND THIS SOUR  POINT?”; “WHERE IS THE HOPE ON WHICH I CAN  ANCHOR MY SELF TO MOVE ON?”

“Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
Foll’wing our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!”

 

Rev. Asiri P. Perera

April 18^th, 2021