Jerusalem leaders say faithful must be diligent in search for God

Published: 2007-04-03

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- The faithful must be "more diligent" in searching for the light of God in order to use it to build a better future, said religious leaders in Jerusalem in an Easter message. "We re-search for the light that comes from God, illuminates all creation, guides every true believer in his search, and helps him to find God's freedom for all his people together with his peace and justice," the heads of Jerusalem churches said in a statement April 2. Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem, Franciscan Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who is in charge of Christian sites in the Holy Land, Maronite Archbishop Paul Nabil Sayah of Haifa and Melkite Bishop George Baker were among the signatories of the Easter message. People around the world, including those in the Holy Land, recently have suffered hardships, they said. Many of the burdens have come from "man's inhumanity to man" and the "deprivation of basic human dignity and rights," they said. If they are to be Jesus' disciples, the faithful of the Holy Land must take on the challenge to "take up (their) cross and follow him," they said.

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