UAE residents in spiritual mood ahead of Easter

Dubai - Christians praised the UAE government's policy on religious tolerance.

Churches across the UAE are draped in a veil of prayer and reflection as Christians observe the holy week with religious devotion, leading up to a joyful Easter celebration on Sunday.

"This is the time when we contemplate on the passion of Jesus Christ, a pious narrative that provides hope and inspiration for us Christians," said Dubai resident Miriam Santos, who goes to St. Mary's Catholic Church in Oud Metha. "This is also the time when we reflect on our faith and spirituality and look at our contribution to our Christian churches that provide us a sense of belonging and community," she added.

Christians in the country have also contemplated on their religious life as they praised the government's policy on religious tolerance.

"The UAE's Year of Tolerance, marked by the recent visit of Pope Francis, has movingly strengthened the bond of two of the oldest religions in the world: Islam and Christianity," Dr Rex Bacarra, professor of philosophy and humanities at The American College of Dubai, told Khaleej Times.

"It was a visit heralded with joyful tears and the waving of the hands, which from afar looked like waves in chorus, reminiscent of the entry of Jesus on a donkey to Jerusalem, with people holding and waving palm branches, shouting in awe and great jubilation, hopeful, and joyful at the sight of the Son of God," he shared.

"But (in church history) the great jubilation was replaced by suffering - Jesus was made to suffer. His body was whipped; his head crowned mockingly with thorns, and his hands and feet were nailed to the cross, and the side of his body struck with a spear. It was a pain so excruciating he breathed his last while hanging on the cross," he added.
For Bacarra, this passion story is being experienced to a lesser degree by Christians in diaspora. "The pain of separation from our loved ones, the sacrifices just to send money and support back home, the discrimination that may arise and the inequality that may befall, the tears of a wife or a mother, a husband or a father, or a child at the other end of a long distance call, are but a sharing of the suffering."
"But we, Christians, have plenty to be thankful for," noted Bacarra, adding: "We have the leaders of the UAE who are making sure that our stay can feel closer to home, if not better. The visit of the Pope and the celebration of the Year of Tolerance and its implications are concrete manifestations of a country trying its best to make us feel good and at home, so that we may not have to endure the burden of time," he underlined.
For Tina Flores, holy week and Easter are a time "to celebrate God's goodness and blessings in our lives as expat workers. "It is a time to value Jesus' sacrifice."
"Easter to me is a time for celebration," added Dubai resident Karen Lobo. "It's a time to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord - a time to forget all the stress of our everyday lives and a time to bring families and friends together under one roof and create beautiful memories."
angel@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Abu Dhabi
• Dubai