Prayers for Palestine - An Ash Wednesday Service for Peace.

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, a time of reflection and repentance leading into the period of Lent, where Christians often pray, fast, act charitably, and give up vices. A small group of around 100 Christians gathered in front of the White House seemed to be wishing that Catholic President Joe Biden would give up his support for Israel during Lent, given that around 30,000 Palestinians have now been killed in the four-month assault, including approximately 12,000 children. 

Christians worldwide have mobilised against the genocide of Palestinians, out of solidarity with all those oppressed in the Holy Land, not least the ever-dwindling community of Christians who have lived in Palestine since the time of Jesus Christ, and are currently facing extinction. However, other Christian groups have used this humanitarian crisis to draw closer to Israel - evangelical Christian Zionism (the idea that the creation of a state of Israel, however brutal the process, is a fulfilment of Biblical principles) has been a significant theme in the Republican primary elections this year, and organisations such as the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem have stood by their Zionist allies in their response to the October 7th attacks by Hamas. 

Therefore, it is crucial for Christians to show support for their brothers and sisters in the Holy Land, and to fulfil the commandments to “turn from evil and do good…seek peace and pursue it” (1 Peter 3:11). The small, inter-denominational group of Christians performing Mass in front of the White House this Wednesday did just that, with Johnny Zokovitch, Executive Director of Pax Christi USA saying “The extraordinary damage inflicted today on the people of Gaza and the Occupied Territories is a crime against humanity. The administration and Congress must demilitarise this conflict rather than supply additional military aid or arms to Israel, which will only increase the violence and result in greater suffering. As a member of the international Catholic peace movement, Pax Christi USA strives to bring Christ's message of all-embracing love to everyone. We urge our fellow Catholic, Joe Biden, to choose the path of nonviolence, take clear steps to end this bloodshed, and promote a just peace."

The group performed a rather unorthodox service, with ash being given out, before attendees covered their hands in red liquid. Reverend Gaylan Hagler, of the United Church of Christ, stated that the ash represents the bodies of dead Palestinians, and the red liquid represents “blood on our hands because we cannot exempt ourselves from what this country is doing”. The US has always been the most staunch supporter of Israel and Zionism, and President Biden is no different, pledging unconditional support to Israel, and taking no concrete action to prevent human rights abuses taking place with US weapons and support. Members of the congregation of Christians at the White House told stories of an 84-year-old cousin being shot by an Israeli sniper, and bombing raids on Greek Orthodox Churches in the area. Unlike opportunistic Christian Zionist politicians, these Christians praying outside the White House are guided by a true feeling of love towards all humans, indignation and disgust in the face of US-sponsored massacres of innocents, and the Christian values of peace, justice, respect, reflection and love of neighbour and of God. 

These actions follow a common theme of Catholic solidarity with Palestine, after Pope Francis has repeatedly called for a permanent ceasefire, and a poll found that 71% of US Catholics support a ceasefire in Gaza. The inter-denominational group, calling itself the Lenten Ceasefire Coalition, will be praying and protesting at the White House every week during Lent, demanding that President Biden:

a) Publicly call for bilateral ceasefire to prevent the further loss of life

b) Support demilitarisation rather than supplying additional military aid or arms to Israel

c) Focus on a release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners held without due process

d) Support robust humanitarian assistance and restarting U.S. government funding to UNRWA, the UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees

e) Work diplomatically to end the siege on Gaza and end the occupation of the Palestinian Territory in order to address the root causes of the violence, accountability for harm, and move all parties toward a lasting, just peace that protects all human life and ensures long-term security and sustainability in the Middle East

(Source: Independent Catholic News). 

As Christian solidarity with Palestine continues to inspire, we should all use this Lenten period to reflect on our own work for peace in the world, and consider how we can give up the most significant vice of all: indifference to injustice.