This year also we walked in the footsteps of Our Lord Jesus-Christ. Despite all the difficulties which we are living, we walked. Despite that the parishes could not come and walk with us, because of the check-points, we walked. We walked to recall to our minds that in this week we remember that Jesus walked and suffered and gave his life for the salvation of all. Of all, of all who are in dispute and conflict, here in this holy city; for all we prayed, Christians, Moslems and Jews.

Today we are in conflict and dispute because of our freedom and land. And, in this situation of conflict, the whole week which we begin today tells us that we should not remain in conflict. Justice should prevail, rights should be recognized. And no one should dominate the other. But all of us we should be equal; equal before God, as humble believers and as citizens contributing together to the creation of the same new society. There is no escape and no way out from the right way: Still many will die, many will be wounded, many will be humiliated. But at the long run, there is no escape from the right and the just solution: There will be justice and peace, as God wants to his holy city to be a city of justice and peace.  

We walked to pray, and to start a week of penitence. We pray for ourselves and for all those with whom we live in these holy places within our long difficult conflict. We pray may God give us his peace and his light and his wisdom which opens the right paths towards the real peace. Amen.

Palm Sunday, 8 April 2001

                             + Michel Sabbah