In a warning that should have been heeded by the dictatorial rulers who are falling one by one across the Middle East, Jesus accuses the scribes and Pharisees in this Sunday’s gospel of laying “heavy burdens hard to carry” on people’s shoulders and warns that “whoever exalts himself will be humbled.” After having inspired the uprisings now dubbed the “Arab spring,” millions of Tunisians cast votes last Sunday for an assembly to draft a constitution and shape a new government. Their small country could now lead the way to greater democracy in the region.

Partial election results midweek suggest that Ennahda, a moderate Islamist party, is leading. The party has begun reaching out to rivals about forming a coalition with secular groups in case it doesn't win an outright majority.

Tunisia’s uprising inspired revolts across the Middle East and North Africa this year, leading to the overthrow of the rulers of Libya and Egypt and unrest in Syria, Bahrain, and Yemen. Libya’s new rulers have spoken of following Islamic law, while in Egypt the once-banned Muslim Brotherhood has set up a leading political party.

Tunisia’s vote for the assembly that will write a new constitution is widely seen as a test of democratization efforts in the region. More than 90 percent of the 4.1 million registered Tunisian voters cast ballots in the elections.

“Tunisia, which has ignited the first spark for the Arab Spring, is now igniting a second spark: the possibility of having moderate Islamists in power,” Tunisian writer and political analyst Salah Attia said.

Sources: Articles by Mariam Fam and Jihen Laghmari for Bloomberg and The Huffington Post