Justice Matters: Catholic Nonviolence Days of Action

Today, as I write, some 50,000 Russians are reported to have lost their lives since the war began. I have not seen estimates for the number of Ukrainians killed.  It is the International Day of Peace, 21 September. We are still in the World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel, and the Catholic Nonviolence Days of Action are beginning.  We are invited to notice the title – days of action.  The nonviolence of the Gospel is not passive. Below I reflect on Palestinians’ nonviolent resistance. This expresses the nonviolent heart to which we are called by the Gospel. Finally I invite reflection and prayer using a vow of nonviolence from Eileen Egan and Rev. John Dear.

See     I have yet to hear if homes in Masafer Yatta in the West Bank have been demolished - the Israeli military had given the owners until the 20 September to demolish them themselves. 

How do Palestinians respond to so many similar situations?  One summarised the Gospel call as: “only ever speak or act in love”.  Another was dismissive of the failure of the churches and international organisations to hold Israel to account and just spoke of growing despair.  The options I heard from another were as follows: “1. Violent resistance – wrong and escalates violence. Yet some observers think Israel is pushing Palestinians with a ferocity that will lead more to this response; 2. Leave – some of those with resources, and indeed that includes many Palestinian Christians, have left; 3. Passive desperation – with heads in the sand, hoping things will get better; 4. Nonviolent active resistance - “Israel can respond to violence but it doesn’t know what to do with Gandhi.”    

We have similar options in how we respond to the disorder of our times and in our own country – to use violent language or action, to choose not to engage, to give way to passive despair, or to actively seek a better world.

Reflect     What does nonviolent resistance look like? 

In part it holds a mirror to the oppressor – seeing themselves reflected and their action exposed they become more human. Violence whether physical, economic, or political – dehumanises the oppressor, as well as the oppressed.  Nonviolent action by the oppressed does not allow that dehumanisation to win – instead actions come from the heart of being human, from the Spirit.  It can be artistic and creative like the mural in the photo.  It can be courageous – “if there is blood shed, it will be ours” one Palestinian said in a webinar…. to fellow Christians safe in the UK.  It embraces all people: as the Nasser family, Palestinians who own the farm “Tent of Nations” in the West Bank say, “We refuse to be enemies.”