When Our Sister Suffer
By Rev. Dr. Esther Liu
Recently, I watched the news with horror. Earlier this month, a doctor in training was raped and murdered in a horrifying way in Kolkata, India. The incident sparkled nation-wide protests, because such crimes are so common. It is reported that some 90 cases of rape occur daily. It is appalling to witness how women are molested in India.
I recalled experiences of what I saw while visiting India a few months ago.
After a fruitful ministry-outreach and a wonderful traditional Indian dinner, I suggested to our team that we walk back to the hotel to get some exercise after eating too much. To me, it was only ten minutes away, but our guides were a little apprehensive. They made the suggestion to sandwich the ladies between the two guides; one in front and another in back. It did not take long to notice a group of teens who tried to block us on the sidewalk. They stared at us and especially the youngest member of our team who was Indian. It was very scarey. Their penetrating stare was perverse and wicked. It was such a relief to finally cross the road and into our hotel.
It was not the perverted stares, catcalling, or mocking that angered me the most. What shocked me was how “ordinary” the situation was. It was just a regular night, where a group of teen boys and men felt “justified” in jeering at us and threatening us as if this is normal, and how women should be treated. The men and the boys were so nonchalant about it. Without the slightest hesitation, they felt entitled to do and say anything they wanted to any woman who happened to walk pass them.
My trip to India was amazing, wonderful, inspiring and it was also heartbreaking, frightening, messy, and emotionally draining. I’m still processing what I have seen and experienced, and here I am sitting in my home confronted by this tragic news of the trainee doctor.
Deep in my heart, I believe Jesus feels women’s pain, fear, and horror as men beat, rape, shove unimaginable things into their bodies, and tear their bodies apart limb by limb. Jesus is there, suffering with them, carrying their broken bodies with his wounded hands, dying, and being buried with them. I pray, in Jesus’ name, that they will also rise with Christ and soak in God’s presence in eternity!
My aim and desire is to stand with my sisters, listen to their cries, pray with them and for them, and celebrate alongside with them every step that they fight and win. I will be their voice where and when their voices are suppressed and silenced. I will be their face when their faces are covered by dirt, sweat, bruises, and blood…and many times ignored and forgotten. Will you do the same, each in your own way, my sisters and brothers in Christ?
Dr. Esther Liu serves as the Vice-Dean of Academic Affairs for Yu Cai Seminary in Beijing, China. She previously served as a pastor of Christian formation and discipleship for two churches in southern California. Esther holds a D.Min. (Spiritual Formation) and M.Div. (Christian Formation and Discipleship) from Fuller Theological Seminary.