Lenten Reflection on Gaza by Revd Munther Isaac

Posted on February 25, 2024 by kaysee

The day before Christmas, Reverend Dr Munther Isaac, pastor of the Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem, delivered his Christmas Sermon, Christ Under the Rubble. This month, he travelled to the UK to take part in the Vigil for Gaza. While there, he addressed attendees at the Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church in London with another reflection.

I posted comments in the Open Thread here.

The address Christ Under the Rubble: A Vigil for Gaza begins just after the 11-minute mark (timestamped) and concludes at 48.30. A total of 38 minutes. In this address, Munther Isaac says:

As we journey towards the cross, may we reflect on the profound meaning of this season. I think of three things:

▹ It is time of Repentance.
▹ It is a time of fasting, and such a time to reflect on the meaning of true piety.
▹ It is a time to reflect on the mystery of suffering and how the road to glory has to go through the Cross.

So, let me talk about these three things, and link them to what is happening in Gaza today.

Christ Under the Rubble: A Vigil for Gaza

I watched the video first and then read the transcript to absorb the details. The address is being delivered by someone who has a first-person experience of what is taking place and I thought that just reading the speech would not convey the full meaning.

The transcript of Dr Isaac’s speech.

 

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6 Responses to Lenten Reflection on Gaza by Revd Munther Isaac

  1. mh says:
    February 26, 2024 at 4:47 pm

    The Palestinian Pastor whose sermon went viral

    Not the Andrew Marr Show

    14,885 views 6 Feb 2024
    Reverend Munther Isaac talks about whether the war on Gaza is a religious war and on why Western churches have not denounced Israel’s war crimes.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lquJ2fvIcA


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  2. mh says:
    February 26, 2024 at 5:32 pm

    And from today:

    Why have you forsaken us?

    Not the Andrew Marr Show
    31.4K subscribers

    26 Feb 2024
    Palestinian Pastor Munther Isaac visited the UK last week and was scheduled to meet the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, to talk about the situation facing Gaza. However, despite the grave situation, Welby refused to meet Isaac as the pastor had spoken on the same platform as Jeremy Corbyn.
    Here, Shireen Awwad, Director of outreach and development at Bethlehem Bible College responds to the Archbishop’s snub and speaks about her experience of meeting Pope Francis and how the early Christian community in Palestine has been forgotten by Christian leaders in the west.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehTT-HmvQKo


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  3. mh says:
    February 27, 2024 at 4:15 pm

    And there’s more

    UK Christians outraged by Archbishop’s snub

    Not the Andrew Marr Show
    31.5K subscribers

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhfjXidGgbI


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  4. kaysee kaysee says:
    February 28, 2024 at 3:01 pm

    Reverend Munther Isaac talks about whether the war on Gaza is a religious war and on why Western churches have not denounced Israel’s war crimes.

    In that video, Pastor Issac is answering the basic question to the understanding of this war. Palestine-Israel conflict 101.

    Around the 5.30 mark:

    Q: Haw can you say this is not a religious war….?

    A: It is not a religious war, for sure. The problem is colonialism. And Palestinians are not fighting Israelis because they are Jews….

    This problem has root causes. It began in 1948 with the creation of the state of Israel on the land of Palestinians…….


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  5. kaysee kaysee says:
    February 28, 2024 at 3:03 pm

    Munther Issac

    We cannot stop raising our voices …..


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  6. kaysee kaysee says:
    March 2, 2024 at 3:39 pm

    Palestinian Pastor Munther Isaac visited the UK last week and was scheduled to meet the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby……

    Having refused to meet and speak to Munther Issac didn’t work out as Justin Welby hoped. The backlash resulted in this apology from him:

    Recently I declined to meet with Rev Dr Munther Isaac during his UK visit. I apologise for and deeply regret this decision, and the hurt, anger, and confusion it caused. I was wrong not to meet with my brother in Christ from the Holy Land, especially at this time of profound suffering for our Palestinian Christian brothers and sisters. I look forward to speaking and praying with him next week.

    Several harsh responses to the apology, such as:

    – I think the reason for the apology is that Christians are calling you out for your non Christian behaviour.

    – Too late chap. You’re already on the wrong side of history. Stay there..

    This photo was included a number of times with stinging replies.

    This response from a Melbourne man, an Australian Palestinian.
    Jase

    I’m a green Orthodox Christian Palestinian. We had 32 family members that lived in spring shejaiya Gaza. All have been killed. They had a lineage dating back to Jesus Christ.

    My government and everyone who could help abandoned them. I work in the Jewish communities and my best friend is Jewish…..but because I’m a Palestinian. I’m a terrorist anti-Semite until I explain myself……

    How am I going to explain to my daughters about what happened and the racism the planet subjected us to?

    I need to find meaning in life again…. I forgive you Father….. Pray for the children on all sides….. Pray it’s a quick death without suffering….. I know no one is going to stop this.

    32 family members in Gaza. All Killed.


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