SUNDAY PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE EAST: And the bird will sing.

What significance does Easter hold for those enduring the harsh realities of war, opposition, and persecution? Can the Church in Gaza, Syria and Lebanon truly “celebrate” Easter while facing her own crucifixions and relentless attacks?

We recently returned from Lebanon, where we connected with believers from two nations that are near to our hearts: Lebanon and Syria. During the visit, I was reminded of an encounter in Egypt many years ago.  One of the Christian leaders we met shared this story to illustrate the attitude of many believers in the Middle East as they celebrate Easter:

“There was once a bird that would sing as soon as the sun rose, and he would continue singing throughout the day until the sun set again. Then one day, the bird became blind. Not knowing whether it was day or night, he stopped singing. But the desire to sing soon overwhelmed his blindness, and the bird decided that he would sing whether it was day or not.”

The leader concluded with these words:

“Like the blind bird, we will sing! Regardless of whether we can see through the darkness or not, we will sing.”

This attitude was reflected by all the leaders we met.

In the PHYSICAL REALM, a darkness has descended on a nation like Syria. Fourteen years of war, a hostile takeover by Jihadist rebels, Western sanctions, a devastating earthquake, and ongoing attacks by Israel have plunged many into a deep despair and a sense of helplessness. Yet, the Church will sing.

In the SPIRITUAL REALM, we are witnessing the fulfillment of Biblical prophecies. We are witnessing breakthroughs on so many levels, and the witness of the Church, as the singing continues to pierce the darkness, is softening hearts and changing lives.  Syria is at a crossroads, with an ever-present reality of uncertainty. But the Church will sing.

So, what does Easter mean to believers in the Middle East in this season of profound darkness?  And, as fellow “celebrators” in the West, how do we respond to their plight with understanding and solidarity?

Todd Deatherage provides the following insight: 

In a world of Fridays, violence begets violence.  The Friday world is zero sum.  Justice and peace are separate things.  Some lives are more important than others. There is minimal cost to looking away from people who are hungry and imprisoned.  Religion is used to baptize injustice.  We live in a Friday world.  But we are Sunday people.  And we are called to live as best we can as reminders that in a Sunday world we are responsible for what we know, responsible to each other, and responsible before God. To quote Dr. King, in a Sunday world, “darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”   

Sunday people are Easter people.  And Easter people have a mandate to live as peacemakers in a world riven by conflict. To be purveyors of light and hope in a time of devastation and despair.  Frederick Douglass said “I prayed for freedom for 20 years, but received no answer until I prayed with my legs.”  As we pray for peace, and we have to be people who pray for peace, let us also be agents of God’s peace.  Let us be those incarnational Easter people who pray for peace with our legs.  Let us do the urgent work for a lasting ceasefire, for a release of all hostages, and for food for hungry people.  And when the guns are silenced and the hungry are at last being fed and the wounded and traumatized are given space to heal, then the greater work begins.  Let us learn the lessons of how we got here and let us commit ourselves to a different path forward, one grounded in the sacred dignity of all the people of the land, Palestinians and Israelis alike.  Let us support all those who seek justice and peace and security through the path of mutual flourishing.  These are the things that make for peace. 

Easter is more than just a proclamation of what Jesus did, it is an affirmation of who He was.  And so it should be for us  as well – in the midst of war, opposition, suspicion and fears – the church HAS TO sing!

 

• https://www.seenandunseen.com/friday-world-middle-east-easter
• Picture: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2025/apr/13/in-pictures-palm-sunday-around-the-world