Ramadan and Lent Reflection
Day 1: Perseverance
Living in the Holy Land, we experience faith not only in our prayers but in our daily struggles. Each morning, I see the resilience of neighbours—Muslims and Christians—holding fast to hope despite checkpoints, economic hardship, and uncertainty. Our lives are intertwined with the land’s history, sacred and contested, where every stone tells a story of perseverance. In fasting, prayer, and reflection, we remember that faith calls us to justice, compassion, and solidarity. Through small acts of kindness—sharing food, offering help, listening—we embody the enduring spirit of this land, grounded in both Quranic guidance and Gospel teachings.
— Lara Mitri
- Bethlehem
Matthew 4:4
“One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:155
“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth, lives, and fruits, but give glad tidings to the patient.”
Day 2: Forgiveness
‘I did not realize that by forgiving others, I would be doing a favor to myself, for it is only through forgiveness that we can free ourselves from the persistent memories of those people who have hurt us .’
‘The Anteater and the Jaguar’
— Rayek R Rizek
Surah An Nur: 24:22
"Do not let the people of virtue and affluence among you swear to suspend donations to their relatives, the needy, and the emigrants in the cause of Allah. Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love to be forgiven by Allah? And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
Luke 11: 4
‘And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.’
Day 3: Patience
Sabr In Arabic
In Palestine, Ramadan and Lent meet under the same sky of waiting and hope. Palestinian Muslims and Christians walk side by side, fasting, praying, and holding onto faith amid uncertainty. Our holy seasons remind us that patience is not weakness, and hope is not naïve , it is resistance. In homes lit by candles and hearts shaped by loss, faith becomes an act of love and steadfastness. We believe that justice, like faith, takes time - and that dignity, compassion, and peace will one day rise from this land where prayers never stop.
— Said Durzi Zarzar - Bethlehem
Colossians 1:11
‘May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience.’
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:153
“O you who believe, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.”
Day 6: Protection
The Christians and Muslims in Palestine always say, “we are brothers and sisters”. We protect one another. In Christian villages, mosques are protected; in Muslim villages, churches are protected. It has happened in history, it happens now.
Both communities face restrictions in reaching their holy places. Our struggle is the same, the Christians are restricted from reaching their churches especially those from the West Bank to visit their holy places in Jerusalem, the same with Muslims. Now even in the West Bank they do not let you move from Church to Church and place to place from the north to the south.
During Ramadan and Lent, we reflect on what it means to protect one another. Protection means standing together in dignity, faith, and shared belonging.
—A resident from Silwan
Surah Al-Hajj 22:40
“…If Allah did not check some people by means of others, monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques — in which the name of Allah is much mentioned — would surely have been destroyed…”
2 Corinthians 9:6
“The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”
Day 7: Submission
In the West Bank, the quiet closure of international organizations does not happen only behind office doors; it echoes through homes, streets, and unfinished dreams. Each organization that leaves takes with it more than a project or a contract, it takes livelihoods, purpose, and the fragile sense of direction many young people were holding onto. In a place where opportunity is already narrow, losing these spaces of work and service deepens unemployment, weakens the local economy, and leaves a generation standing still when they were trying to move forward.
Yet the heaviest loss is not financial. It is the slow fading of hope, the feeling that effort may no longer lead to stability, growth, or dignity. Young people who once believed they could build themselves through humanitarian work now face uncertainty instead of possibility. Still, even in this shrinking space, resilience remains. Because here, persistence is not a choice but a way of surviving, and the belief that dignity and opportunity can return is what keeps people standing, even when the doors keep closing.
— Member of an INGO
James 4: 7a
‘Submit yourselves therefore to God.’
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:112
“Yes—whoever submits themselves to Allah and does good will have their reward with their Lord; no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.”
Day 8: Justice
In the West Bank, the quiet closure of international organizations does not happen only behind office doors; it echoes through homes, streets, and unfinished dreams. Each organization that leaves takes with it more than a project or a contract, it takes livelihoods, purpose, and the fragile sense of direction many young people were holding onto. In a place where opportunity is already narrow, losing these spaces of work and service deepens unemployment, weakens the local economy, and leaves a generation standing still when they were trying to move forward.
Yet the heaviest loss is not financial. It is the slow fading of hope, the feeling that effort may no longer lead to stability, growth, or dignity. Young people who once believed they could build themselves through humanitarian work now face uncertainty instead of possibility. Still, even in this shrinking space, resilience remains. Because here, persistence is not a choice but a way of surviving, and the belief that dignity and opportunity can return is what keeps people standing, even when the doors keep closing.
— Archbishop Hosam Naoum, Jerusalem
Surah Hud 11:115
“Be patient, for Allah does not allow the reward of those who do good to be lost.”
2 Corinthians 4: 7-9
‘But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.’
Day 9: Justice
This year, our fasts meet.
Lent and Ramadan walk side by side on the same land, under the same sky.
Palestinian Christians and Muslims fast together; not only from food and drink, but from despair. We fast with intention, with prayer, with a shared vision of dignity, freedom, and an end to occupation.
Our hunger becomes a prayer.
Our patience becomes resistance.
Our unity becomes strength.
Different rituals, one people.
Different prayers, one hope.
Different paths, the same cause.
May this shared fast purify our hearts, deepen our solidarity, and bring us closer to the justice we believe in; and deserve!
— Said Durzi Zarzar
- Bethlehem
Amos 5:24
“But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:8
“O you who believe, be steadfast for Allah, witnesses in justice, and let not the hatred of a people cause you to swerve from justice. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness.
Day 10: Hope
What then is the character of hope? It’s not, anymore, a wish that tomorrow will be better. It’s not an expectation of progress. We don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel. Hope doesn’t mean that things are in any way improving or that all we have to do is sit back, wait and watch. Waiting, being passive, and feeling optimistic about the future – these are false hope. True hope is active: it is all about developing a strategy for action, for work, for getting engaged and involved.
(Bethlehem Besieged, p153)
— Revd Mitri Raheb
Surah Yusuf 12:87
“Do not despair of relief from Allah. Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allah."
Romans 8: 24,25
‘Hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.’
Day 13: Dignity
“Our partners report that cases of hypothermia, acute respiratory infections and skin conditions are on the rise in Gaza. Inadequate shelter, overcrowded camps, difficulty accessing clean water and ongoing food shortages are just some of the many challenges facing displaced families. Winter conditions are exacerbating the health crisis, putting more people at risk.
Many have weakened immune systems, leaving them more vulnerable to diseases, while others are in urgent need of reconstructive surgery and ongoing treatment for wounds received during the war.
Continuing critical shortages of medicines, medical supplies and specialist equipment mean many are unable to get appropriate medical care. Embrace’s partner Al Ahli Hospital, in Gaza City, for example, remains the only hospital with a functioning CT scanner. The hospital, run by the Diocese of Jerusalem, continues to provide primary, trauma and secondary healthcare services, including surgeries, lab testing and ultra sounds. Sawsan, Programme Development Officer at the Diocese of Jerusalem, told us: “People talk about rebuilding Gaza, but what is needed now is to care for and rebuild the people.”
— Update from Embrace the Middle East, a Christian-led charity (Jan 29th).
Acts 28:10
“They bestowed many honours on us, and when we were about to sail, they put on board all the provisions we needed.”
Surah Al’Isra 17:70
Indeed, We have dignified the children of Adam, carried them on land and sea, granted them good and lawful provisions, and privileged them far above many of Our creatures.
Day 14: Resistance
Nonviolence International exists because we refuse to accept this as normal.
Nonviolence is harder than violence. We are not going to kill or threaten our way to a just and sustainable future. We must use persuasion, nonviolent coercion, the rule of law, global cooperation and governance in order to survive and thrive. And we must bring on board the huge segments of humanity who succumb to greed and cruelty and elect abusive leaders out of fear or coercion.
Nonviolence is a way of resisting violence without becoming it. It is organized, courageous, and disciplined. It is about telling the truth, confronting power, and standing with those who are most impacted.
— Sami Awad and Michael Beer
Surah Al-A‘raf 7:200 – Seek refuge in God
“And if an evil whisper from Satan tries to tempt you, then seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He is Hearing, Knowing.”
James 4:7
‘Resist the devil and he will flee from you.’
Day 15: Togetherness
Life between Muslims and Christians has always been very good. There is no conflict between Muslims and Christians in the Holy Land. You can go to Gaza, they will say they live very well together, and feel safe with each other. We are not an enemy to Jews or Christians, we have always protected the Jews and Christians in history and have lived alongside them both. We as Muslims have Christian friends and the other way around. It is hurtful when we see reports of hatred between Christians and Muslims because for us we have no problem living together, our struggle is the same. Our faith traditions differ, but our humanity and attachment to this land is the same.
— Diyar - East Jerusalem
Colossians 3:14
Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Surah Al-Ankabut 29:46
Do not argue with the People of the Book unless gracefully, except with those of them who act wrongfully. And say, “We believe in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to you. Our God and your God is ˹only˺ One. And to Him we ˹fully˺ submit.”
Please note:
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The Biblical quotations are from the NRSV.
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The Qur’an was revealed in Arabic. This English version is a translation intended to convey the meaning, but some subtleties and depth of the original language may not be fully reflected.