Remember those old World War II movies about the Resistance and other brave souls sitting by the old short wave radios listening to the BBC? Well, they’re back. In addition to closing down opposition papers, arresting children, and passing a law that people who disseminate “fake news,” read, who don’t agree with Putin’s version of events, Russia has shut down Facebook.
I suppose we should be grateful that Putin isn’t acting like Uncle Joe as Stalin was known, who sent hundreds of thousands to their deaths for even asking a question. Well, not yet! And one might ask, where is the church in all this? In 2014, the Russian Orthodox Church broke its ties with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople over its recognition of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as a body independent of Moscow.
The Russian Orthodox Church is, sadly, an accomplice in this war, wanting to establish its hegemony. And we thought that Christian religious wars ended with the Peace of Westphalia.
Prayer for the Day
From our deceptive and self-indulgent lifestyles, we need deliverance,
But we only want just enough so we don't have to change our ways’
From our pride and smugness, we need salvation,
But only just enough so we can still claim we know it all.
But you, O God, see past our self-deceptions, our fears and into our hopes,
Forgiving us before the words are even out of our mouths,
In the name of him who is the symbol of your forgiveness,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen
Thoughts for the Day
In war, truth is the first casualty.
- Aeschylus, Greek playwright (525-455 BCE)
I cannot believe that war is the best solution. No one won the last war and no one will win the next one.
- Eleanor Roosevelt (1882-1960)
O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill?
Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right and speak the truth from their heart;
Who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends,
Nor take up a reproach from their neighbors;
In whose eyes the wicked are despised, but do honor those who fear the Lord,
Who stand by their oath even to their hurt.
Psalm 15: 1-4