This Advent, Chasing Justice partners with Red Candle Palestine to stand in solidarity with our Palestinian siblings, honor the people of the land where Jesus was born, and pray for peace, liberation and flourishing in Palestine, the land where Jesus was born, and beyond— for our liberation is bound up together.
In this third week of Advent, usually characterized by love, Palestinian American Kendra Savusa invites us to practice love by listening.
For decades, Palestinian Christians have asked for one thing: to be heard. To have our stories received with open hearts by fellow Christians, our siblings in Christ.
On October 10th of this year, a ceasefire in Gaza began. We held our breath, trying to celebrate, even though we knew not to fully trust it. Since then, 360 Palestinians have been killed. This comes after over 750 days of witnessing a genocide unfold on our people, with over 70,000 confirmed deaths and estimates reaching into the hundreds of thousands.
Our grief is heavy, our hearts weary.
We proudly trace our heritage back to the very first Christians of Pentecost, yet the global church too often forgets we even exist. For the first time, many of our stories have reached a global audience. Still, doors remain closed, as many are unwilling to sit with us in humility and confront the reality that their version of Christianity played a role in a genocide. I hope that American Church leaders will have ears to hear and faith to overcome the fear of what solidarity may cost
This Advent, I find myself reflecting on longing: the deep, enduring desire to be seen and heard, to be valued in systems that often make us feel disposable. Palestinians today, as in centuries past, long for God to move, for justice to come, for life to be made whole.
I also long to understand how I can truly meet people where they are. Especially those who turn away from the realities of mass graves, destruction, and suffering. Lord, help my soul to find peace even in these dust clouds of misunderstanding and deep grief, so that I may gently invite others into conversation that helps the marginalized flourish.
For my fellow peacemakers this Advent, I long for a renewed sense of focus, sumud (Palestinian steadfastness), and joy, knowing that our sustenance comes from remaining in God in all we do.
From the very beginning, our faith was formed in the margins: Occupation, displacement, uncertainty. Christ’s life reminds us that our sustenance does not come from power and control, but from abiding in God.
In this season, I hope we will commit to listening to Palestinian voices that we would be intentional about making time to listen and to engage in self-education.
I pray that we would sit with God and ask Him to reveal how we can put our faith in action, while honestly reflecting on the role our faith has played in shaping our compliance with genocide.
For some, this may start with reading a book by a Palestinian author. For others, it’s inviting friends and church leaders to pray intentionally for Palestinians in Gaza this Advent, as they face harsh weather alongside ongoing devastation.
It’s different for everyone, and we must each seek God about what we can start and continue doing.
Ultimately, Lord, as your child, I long for your glory. May all our efforts in peacemaking flow from hearts devoted to Your Kingdom.
Renew our hearts.
Restore our hope.
And guide us to stand in solidarity with those who are longing to be heard.
Kendra Savusa is an American Palestinian based in the Southern United States. In the wake of October 7th, she has dedicated herself to the urgent work of peacemaking and constructive dialogue. She focuses on inviting American Christians to thoughtfully re-examine the theological and political foundations of Christian Zionism. Through empathy and a commitment to shared humanity, Kendra seeks to foster understanding and a more nuanced conversation within Christian communities about justice, peace, and the Holy Land.
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