The road to peace and reconciliation is a complex and painful process, whether in national or indeed individual conflicts. It involves the conquering of fear, the dealing with bitterness and outrage, and the building of trust. It can be supported or subverted by those outside of the immediate situation as well as those inside. Yet it has to start somewhere with one side making the first vulnerable move, and taking risks for peace.As a Christian celebrating Easter, I have been struck once again that the work of God in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is often described in terms of peace and reconciliation. The New Testament sees the selfishness and arrogance of human beings as leading to separation from God and from one another. However, it continually emphasises that God makes the first move in offering a new start of reconciliation, with the cross being the place of vulnerability and pain which achieves it.

 

不管是个人之间还是国家之间，相互妥协、通向和平之路总是个复杂崎岖且痛苦的过程，因为这是一个战胜恐惧，克服苦难，消弭暴行，建立信任的过程。在千钧一发之际，任何外部内部的力量都会改变其走向。但是总要有一方先做出让步，为和平冒上一点险。作为一个基督徒庆祝复活节时，我又一次意识到，耶稣的死和复活经常被描述为某种意义上的和平和调解。《新约》认为人的自私和傲慢最终导致了人神分离，造成了人与人的隔阂。然而，《新约》也不断强调，上帝给了大家一个重新和解的机会，而十字架下的妥协与苦难是必由之路。