Reports surfaced this week that a strike by a UAV in the city of Rafah, in the Egyptian Sinai, killed one person just a few hours after a Grad rocket strike destroyed an agricultural structure in Israel’s Eshkol region, near the Egyptian border. The rocket strike was claimed by the Islamic State (IS) terror militia, which also claimed a bomb attack on two Coptic churches in Alexandria and Tanta during Palm Sunday services on Sunday which killed dozens of Christian worshipers.

Alexander Egoz, an activist with the Chabad organization, posted pictures to his Facebook profile this week of a traditional pre-Passover bonfire in which he burned all the bread he had in his home. However, the pictures also showed that he had decided to make a public spectacle of burning copies of the New Testament as well as pictures of prominent Israeli Messianic Jewish spokespersons Eitan Bar and Moti Vaknin. Messianic groups re-posted the pictures with a request to pray for the safety of Eitan and Moti as well as other leaders of the community, as well as requesting prayer for a softening of the heart for Egoz and others who might want to cause Messianic Jews physical harm.

The European Union issued a statement this week that it is extending economic sanctions on Iran because of that country’s abysmal human rights record. The sanctions include a travel ban and banking restrictions on 82 individuals and one institution that the EU has determined are complicit in human rights abuses.

The Student Senate at Tufts University near Boston voted on Sunday evening to approve a resolution recommending that the University divest from four international companies that do business with Israel. The non-binding vote passed 17-6 with 8 abstentions.

President Erdoğan, in his efforts to consolidate his conservative and nationalist voters, continues to fan fears of real or fabricated enemies, with particular emphasis on “Christian crusaders.” Few Turks (or Kurds) appear to care about Ankara’s disturbing and ever-worsening democratic deficit.

Rev. David Pileggi reminds us that Jesus came to serve and give himself as a ransom for many. This is the paradox: He rides in on a donkey and not a warhorse. He comes in vulnerability, gentleness and humility. Rev. Pileggi concludes the sermon with a reflection on salvation.