SOUTH SUDAN: Peace Is Our Offer To The People of South Sudan, Says Council of Churches
Members of South Sudan Council of Churches, among them the Catholic Archbishop of Juba Most Rev. Paulino Lukudu Loro, have stressed that peace which was the first gift from our Lord to the Apostles after his triumph over dead is what they are offering to the people of South Sudan who have gone through great suffering and have been tried by the consequences of violence and conflict.
In their Easter message signed by the chairman of the Council, Rt. Rev. Moderator Peter Gai Lual and other council members, they indicated that the first commitment that South Sudanese people ought to pursue is peace because it is the fundamental condition for ensuring respect of the rights of each individual and integral development of the people.
In the statement, the Council has indicated that Christ’s resurrection is not only to bring hope to the world, but specifically to the South Sudanese who have lived for years without hope.
“The cry of the poor who hunger and thirst for justice binds us in conscience and commits us in our ministry. They are the least in the eyes of the world, yet precious in God’s eyes. In the South Sudan National Anthem, we have vowed to protect our nation. Surely we make this vow each time we sing the national anthem. The Revitalized Agreement of the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) is like a vow made to God. We are saying that peace is good; reconciliation is possible; and unity is better.”
The council further indicated that South Sudan has grievously suffered the force of the crucifixion through war, as citizens have turned against each other, discarding the truth, while bringing people to the point of self-doubt. As a result, conversion of the heart which means a change of life, Jesus’ love which was epitomised by the act of the washing of his disciples’ feet is necessary.
“His Holiness Pope Francis kissing the feet of our leaders, as if to say, I serve you, now serve your people in South Sudan, was the very message of Easter,” the Council said, urging the South Sudanese to celebrate the feast of the Resurrection of the Lord with sincerity and truth.
“God is offering us another opportunity to end the human-made tragedy in South Sudan through the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This is our opportunity. The Lord has set before us life and death, blessings and curses (Deuteronomy 30:19); the choice is in our hands,” the Council said.
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By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News
