Not Yet!

To Muslims friends, we - Copts - say: In God we are indeed rejoicing! But we are still mourning!

Indeed, many Egyptians got disgusted of the New Years Crime in Alexandria. Indeed, the rational and non-fanatic Egyptian muslims stood up. Indeed, celebrity tried to show sympathy.

BUT:

the martyrs blood is still fresh, we didn't forget yet!

the tears of the afflicted families are not dried yet!

the wounds are not healed yet!

the blood of Copts that was shed in a train, on Jan 10th, just after Christmas, is still warm!

the suddenly became handicapped children, are still handicapped!

Clearly condolences, demonstrations, protests, or execution court decision for one of last year's crime in Nagah Hammadi, are all together NOT a comfort.

We need to tackle and solve the roots of the problems.

Celebrating the Revelation of God tonight (Theo-phay), we remember what happened in New Year's Eve as, not the conclusion of decades of treating christians as second-hand citizens, but rather as a mark for a new era of Martyrdom. This reminds us when our Lord Jesus Christ told us that it will happen, a day will come when those who kill us think they are doing God a favor! It also reminds the prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, which all tell us that repentance is our call, and to love those who persecute us is our challenge!

To Muslims, however, especially the rational ones, those felt sympathy with us and wanted to help, I say: In God we are indeed rejoicing! but we are still mourning!