Les Mis has been my favorite musical since middle school — I’m a little obsessed. It’s a story of love and sacrifice, belief and loss, suffering and revolution, both personal and political. When I found out it was coming to Shea’s this year, I got my family and friends to get tickets so we could all see it. To me, it is a story full of hope (a little ironic considering the majority of the cast dies). This year, watching Les Mis during Lent, I was really struck by how much those themes of loss, suffering, sacrifice, belief, love, and revolution fit with the stories we share during this holy season.
This time of year, many Christians remember the Via Dolorosa, commonly translated to “Way of Suffering,” that Jesus traveled from the place he was condemned to where he was laid to rest after being taken down from the cross. Some set up stations of the cross in their churches, some make pilgrimages to Jerusalem. Some re-enact the stations or put on productions of the whole Passion. Wherever and however we do it, Lent is a time to remember the suffering of Jesus, the sacrifice in his death, and the sacrifice inherent in a life spent for others.
In fall of 2017, I walked the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem. I was in the middle of a semester-long trip in college, studying peace-building in the region, religion, history, and elementary Hebrew and Arabic with around 20 other students. We stayed for a week at Ecce Homo, a convent at the second station. The route today takes you through the old city of Jerusalem, walking down narrow streets lined with shops, restaurants, and places of worship, and Israeli soldiers, barbed wire, and fences.
This year, I’ll be walking a different pilgrimage. On March 30th, I’ll be on a Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage from Niagara Square in Buffalo to Niagara Falls. The 25-mile route along the Niagara River represents the 25 mile coast of Gaza. In addition to remembering Jesus’ sacrifice, I’ll be remembering the 35,000 Palestinians killed by the Israeli bombardment of Gaza. I’ll be remembering their loved ones, grieving through starvation during the holiest month of the year. I’ll be journeying in prayerful solidarity with all Palestinians working for liberation, and I’ll be part of a global movement of churches acting up in remembrance of Jesus’ teachings.
So it was also in this time of preparation for Holy Week, while I prepare for this pilgrimage on Holy Saturday (in the Western tradition), that I sat listening to the lyrics of my favorite musical with a whole new perspective. Lines like “There are children back at home, and the children have got to be fed, and you're lucky to be in a job, and in a bed. And we're counting our blessings” found new meaning. “Will you give all you can give so that our banner may advance,” “There's a hunger in the land. There's a reckoning still to be reckoned,” “the righteous hurry past, they don’t hear the little ones crying.” “The blood of the martyrs will water the meadows of…” well…
However we remember the Via Dolorosa this Lent, may we remember the sacrifices of those that came before and those giving all they have now. In our passions or our stations or our pilgrimages, may we think of the parents killed waiting for aid. The doctors and journalists and eldest children doing their best for their younger siblings. May we remember that Jesus’ story is not static, but living and breathing among us today, and that we are part of a larger, longer story that isn’t over yet.
I’ll leave you with the two verses that always bring me to tears.
Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring
When tomorrow comes!”
I’d like to invite you to participate in the witness of the Via Dolorosa and of the suffering of Gazans on March 30 (Holy Saturday for all of those celebrating in the Western Tradition).
You don't have to walk the full 25 miles to participate. You can sign up for some or all of the legs of the pilgrimage here. Please register as soon as possible as the event is right around the corner!
For more information, check out our website here, or follow us on Instagram @gcpilgrimagebuff.
You can give to our fundraiser at here, or contribute your time on one of our support teams here.
However you feel led to participate, thank you!
Lindsay Acker grew up in Williamsville. She went to school for peace-building and development at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg Virginia. She was a theater kid (is a theater kid?), and currently works in domestic violence services.