Today’s news is focused on the escalating situation on Ukraine. Pro-Russian forces have begun heavy shelling on their western frontier, the line that separates the so-called independent Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, about one quarter of Ukraine in the east and south. Shelling went into civilian areas, damaging a kindergarten. We face the largest threat to European security since the collapse of the old USSR,
There has been an uneasy truce since 2015 when he Minsk Protocols were signed to stop the fighting which was a pretext for Russian incursion. Putin and others claim that Ukrainians are committing “genocide” against Russians. Russian forces in Belarus are not leaving after their “military exercises.” So why should we care?
Putin saw the West as weak when he invaded Crimea; he still sees us as weak. He saw how we abandoned Afghanistan and he figures we Americans are more concerned with living a good life than with defending some country in Europe. Reminds us of the photo of Chamberlin waving a piece of paper signed by “Herr Hitler,” doesn’t it? As Christians we may be committed to nonviolence, but at what point do we just roll over?
Prayer for the Day
Praying for peace, O God, we cannot neglect the possibility of war,
For the forces of violence now are escalating their attacks;
Hoping for some diplomatic resolution of a dangerous situation,
We cannot forget the broken promises of dictators.
Guide us in these perilous time, O Lord, so we act for the right,
Protecting freedom and liberty as we have promised.
In the name of the One not afraid to act against injustice,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
War is what happens when language fails.
- Margaret Atwood, Canadian novelist
Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.
- Elie Wiesel, writer, Holocaust survivor (1928-2016)
Give ear to my words, O Lord; give heed to my sighing
Listen to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, to you I pray.
O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
In the morning I plead my case to you and watch.
Psalm 5: 1-3