^{Romans 13:12:}

 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light.

This week we begin Great Lent, preparing for the feasts of feasts—Velykden’—Easter, the victory of light over darkness, life over death. Each year we prepare by delving into our own souls to tune our reception of Christ’s teaching: Do I let Love guide my actions, my being, or have I inured myself to its (Love’s) demands? 

During Lent we face the reality of the Cross: goodness incarnate tortured and killed.

We reflect on the living that Christ illustrated: unremitting compassion for those wronged, marginalized or suffering; unremitting passion for justice, equality and dignity.   

We, together with the world, watch in horror as “the deeds of darkness” descend on Ukraine. At the same time, with wonder and awe, we see Ukraine “put on the armour of light”. Our homeland, our country of heritage, looks in the face of the devil and does not succumb but stands in defence of justice, equality and dignity. Ukraine stands in defence of her children and her forbears. This is Love. 

On this forgiveness Sunday we recall Pope Francis’s appeal (in Fratelli Tutti) that to forgive does not mean accepting a wrong: it means we condemn the evil and act to stop it without ourselves being consumed by hatred.

Everyone of us in some capacity can contribute to support Ukraine: speak out the truth in our circles of communication; stay in contact as much as possible with those in Ukraine; support each other in our communities; donate time/funds; speak honestly to children and youth; stay united; be kind; pray pray pray. Where there is love, there is God; this is our “armour of light”.  

I can’t make the

world peaceful

I can’t stall tanks

from roaring down roads

I can’t prevent children

from having to hide in bunkers

I can’t convince the news to

stop turning war into a video game

I can’t silence the sound of bombs

tearing neighborhoods apart

I can’t turn a guided missile

into a bouquet of flowers

I can’t make a warmonger

have an ounce of empathy

I can’t convince ambassadors

to quit playing truth or dare

I can’t deflect a sniper’s bullet

from turning a wife into a widow

I can’t stave off a country being

reduced to ash and rubble

I can’t do any of that

the only thing I can do

is love the next person I encounter

without any conditions or strings

to love my neighbor

so fearlessly that

it starts a ripple

that stretches from

one horizon to the next

I can’t force peace

on the world

but I can become a force

of peace in the world

because

sometimes all it takes

is a single lit candle

in the darkness

to start a movement

“Lord, make me a candle

of comfort in this world

let me burn with peace”

~ John Roedel