21.04.2019
‘We Stand in Solidarity With Christians in Sri Lanka’ – Statement from Archbishop Michael Jackson
While many of us have come to take for granted the voice of peace at Christmas and the voice of hope at Easter, we are reminded starkly and tragically today that this is not the case for Christians in many parts of the world.
These Christians are our sisters and brothers. We stand in solidarity with them and they with us. Together we are one family of the resurrection. In so many countries worldwide our fellow–Christians find themselves a minority that is targeted and persecuted.
The news this morning of bomb blasts at churches and hotels in Sri Lanka comes to us at a time we have come to refer to as The Easter Weekend. There is no tomorrow, no Bank Holiday Monday, for those killed in the multiple bomb blasts in Sri Lanka. There is nothing but devastation and fear and injury for these people, these communities and for Sri Lankan society.
Violence and murder of this sort and on this scale bring to the fore once again the need for Inter Faith understanding and compassion as Christians seek to live peaceful and fruitful lives as neighbours with their neighbours.
We pray for all concerned and all affected by these tragedies. We implore the merciful presence of God in families and communities on the day when it is our conviction that The Risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said:
Peace be with you. (St John 20.19)