Please Don't Sacrifice Us!
After celebrating Easter within the limitations of the pandemic twice, this year's Easter has actually given rise to hope. The pandemic subsides, the dawn of a new life appears.
"They kill anyone they meet!”
These words describe the atrocities of war in Bucha, Ukraine, and also make us ponder more deeply about the meaning of Easter, a celebration closely connected with abomination and death, but also the power that overcomes death.
After celebrating Easter within the limitations of the pandemic twice, this year's Easter has actually given rise to hope. The pandemic subsides, the dawn of a new life appears. However, the world is shrouded in the threat of a major conflict.
The Russian-Ukrainian war has taken a heavy toll, exacerbating the global food and energy crisis. Hunger has increased 18 percent during the pandemic, from 720 million people to 811 million people. According to the United Nations, the Russian-Ukrainian war increased the number of people living in hunger by 7.6 million-13.1 million. The food crisis causes social crises in several African countries and exacerbates the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
Also read:
The increase in food and fuel prices in Indonesia also makes many people scream. If left untreated, this Russian-Ukrainian war could sow a petty ideology that spreads faster and more dangerously than the coronavirus.
The Covid-19 pandemic has killed 6 million people and this has not happened mainly because of bad choices by humans. However, wars and conflicts can kill many more people and this happens mainly because of humans’ narrow choices and forgetting about humanity itself.
The vision of humanity has been replaced by narrow and petty political interests that appear in the inability to deal with problems through dialogue and self-introspection.
In recent years, Pope Francis has warned of the emergence of a Third World War that will not explode immediately, but will be gradual by arms trafficking, terrorism and other forms of violence in a culture of death. The vision of humanity has been replaced by narrow and petty political interests that appear in the inability to deal with problems through dialogue and self-introspection.
The haste to use brute power is a great civilizational decline. In Indonesia, the public is also upset by the discourse of postponing the general elections and extending the term of office of the President. These sensitive issues regarding politics as “power” have hurt the feelings of many people.
Thankfully the President has emphasized that the elections will still be held in 2024. The power should be in the hands of the people — not engineered by a handful of politicians — and for the welfare of the people and humanity. This is where we find the meaning of Easter.
Easter deals with real life, which is complicated, it is intertwined with power, which causes various victims. The passion and death of Jesus at Calvary cannot be separated from the political power of petty religion for its own interest.
In the face of this kind of power, the figure of Jesus becomes a threat, precisely because He displays the opposite values, namely freedom and human nobility from material temptations, power and prestige.
The life of Jesus is a restoring power, precisely because it has been totally dedicated to the liberation and coming of the Kingdom of God, namely the reality in which divine values are the guide.
Spanish legionnaires bear a crucifix figure depicting 'El Cristo de la Buena Muerte' (Christ of the Good Death) during the 'Cristo de Mena' Holy Week procession on April 14, 2022 in Malaga, southern Spain. - Christian believers around the world mark the Holy Week of Easter in celebration of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Jesus did not hesitate to fight the collusion of mammon (money, which is as powerful as gods and idols), politics and petty religious understanding. The event of Easter was preceded by the death of Jesus on the cross, a consequence of the sacrifice of life to God's Love.
God's act of love
Easter is not a glorification of death, but an act of God's love and His invitation for life to be defended, nurtured and developed so that it has a fuller meaning. The death of Jesus as a sacrifice must be interpreted in the broad framework of life. “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
In the Easter event, the Father responded to Christ's sacrifice by resurrecting Him. Jesus' resurrection was not a miraculous miracle or God's special intervention to keep Jesus alive, but rather that He might become the living Lord, so that the world might have new life “in all its abundance.”
In a world that is threatened with war and crisis, the event of Easter also reminds us of the role of victims, who have their own power to defend whole and sustainable life, that overcomes death itself.
This power is seen in the non-vengeful attitude of the risen Jesus, also in the attitude of His disciples, and in the many victims throughout history. Forgiveness stops the cycle of violence.
This happened because the suffering and death of Jesus had no room for revenge.
Perhaps it is very strange that after their Master was brutally and unjustly killed, the disciples of Jesus were not overcome with a desire for revenge. The challenge of Jesus' disciples was to overcome fear, disappointment and sadness. This happened because the suffering and death of Jesus had no room for revenge.
The suffering of Jesus was part of a loving surrender to the Father to redeem life. Thus, if there is anger and revenge, this purpose will be lost. So, in the context of a world that is currently in crisis, the important message of Easter is to give space to victims, to listen to their screams as a basis for collective action, not to calculate profit and loss, let alone self-respect and self-interest.
If we really meet and listen to the various victims, we will change. The world will change. We will rise from petty and narrow viewpoints, from fear and anger, so new energy builds life.
A penitent with a rope tied around the neck bears a cross during the 'El Ensogado' (The roped) procession on Easter Holy Week's Maundy Thursday in the northern Spanish village of Sietamo on April 14, 2022. - Christian believers around the world mark the Holy Week of Easter in celebration of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The disciples of Jesus changed their lives when they truly listened to Jesus, the Risen Victim, who gently greeted and encouraged them to forgive and cultivate life-giving relationships.
If the world does not take this attitude, destruction, murder and conflict will continue to spread. Easter invites us so that before we act, we dare to ask: who will be the victims of our actions?
Then dare to hear their screams: “Please don't sacrifice us!”
If so, Easter is not a fantasy, but real life. Easter is God's claim to be responsible for taking care of the life that has been redeemed.
A Bagus Laksana SJ
A Bagus Laksana, SJ Rector of Sanata Dharma University
(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo).
