I recently saw a social media post by a prominent Israeli leader urging his people to sign a petition to take the Israeli Government to the International Court of Justice, arguing Israelis needed to take this stand to find their souls, rather than lose them as he believes is currently the case. He rejected any shame for his call to action; rather, he said, the burden of shame lies with the Israeli government and the IDF who are currently inflicting horrific, unacceptable and inhumane suffering on the people of Gaza. The suffering is beyond any reasonable standards of justice for the unbelievable horror inflicted by Hamas on the Israeli people by their murderous rampage killing over 1200 people, and raping, torturing and kidnapping of over 200 hostages on 7 October 2023. With around 62,000 Palestinians killed since that date, and hundreds of thousands injured, starving and without food or medical aid in the last few months, the disproportionate response, vengeance and punishment is beyond any measured demand for justice.
I had this current war in my mind with the reference to shame, as it was also similar to the call by Giselle Pellicot to find her own soul and to reject strenuously the overwhelming sense of shame people were alleging upon her, pushing any shame back where it belonged, to the 70 plus men who raped her over about 5 years, while drugged by her husband, who had elicited her neighbours and strangers to rape her while he filmed them. Giselle Pellicot rejected the choice to hold the trial and maintain her anonymity, instead opening herself up to worldwide scrutiny via the media as she reclaimed her own sense of self, her own soul, and instead, chose to face down her rapists, including her husband as she demanded justice, not only for herself but for all women who have been raped and abused.
Sometimes we see courage beyond imagining and suffering beyond words, far outside our own experiences and we demand with grief, anger, and outrage, for words, for clear action and commitment in response, from those with power and influence, for the long term. We pray to God for justice and peace, for love and hope. Often our prayers are beyond any words and memory when those who are in the hell of suffering can see no light in the darkness, no way out of the torment. In such times and places it is our calling to be the light and the hope of Christ at this time in the world, giving witness, standing in solidarity and prayer and peace; and in these places we are the body of Christ.
God warns Isaiah:
And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. I will make it a waste;…for the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his pleasant planting: he expected justice, but saw bloodshed; righteousness, but heard a cry! (Isaiah 5:5-7)
Jesus brought this to mind with his clear, sharp warning to those listening to him as sees repeated greed, contempt, privileging and abuse of power. He warns his listeners of the divisions to come, rather than the experience of God’s peace among families and across the world, while he watches his people’s behaviour breaking relationships and our humanity. He notes his listeners’ lack of willingness or interest in seeing God’s work while choosing to reject God’s love. However, Jesus’ story is completely different. It is one of calamity and sadness, identified hypocrisy and an urgent call to make matters right, restoring relationships and righteousness.
‘Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell, you, but rather division! (Luke 12:51)
Shame is imposed on him through his arrest, trial and crucifixion, by those around him, who demand his submission to oppression, both by his religious leaders and by the military authorities, who denied Jesus’ story of God’s love and peace. Their response was utterly rejected by Jesus. We are reminded of this in the Letter to the Hebrews:
Let us run with perseverance the race set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
What then are we to do, with such a challenge and invitation by Jesus, by God, and by those among us who have been forced to suffer, feel shame and are rejected by the world, told they are useless, despised and held in contempt?
The call to find our souls in Christ is eternal. In the end, our prayer is always to God: ‘May your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who are indebted also to us’.
Our shame is Christ’s shame. He died for us, so we might not repeat the rejections, the denials, and the hypocrisy of the past. Christ invites us to look beyond the simplistic and divisive black and white choices; chose me or you are on the side of the enemy. This is never the way to go. Our choice is always Christ.
God calls us to a different peace and a different future, a world without the need for shame or judgement. Our choices are always before us and before God. However, our sense of right and wrong is nurtured by Jesus and the Holy Spirit as we work for God’s justice and peace.
Our calling is to reject unkindness, contempt, hatred and fear, vilification, privilege and abuse, death and violence, by whoever is doing these things and wherever it is present. It is never acceptable for anyone. God calls us as we follow in Jesus’ footsteps, even if they do lead us to the cross and death; but we remember we are resurrection people.
The Lord be with you.
