The media is filled with pictures of Ukrainian men, women and children fleeing the Russian onslaught in the tragic war started by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Other images show brave men and women standing up to the Russian forces. They have such courage and resilience!
What can we do?
Deacon Pat Goles’ son is going to Poland to help the refugees. Most of us are not going to do that. But we can help with donations to Baltimore-based Catholic Relief Services, the Knights of Columbus Ukraine Solidarity Fund and other compassionate groups. And we can pray.
Prayer seems like such a humble response. We don’t always see immediate results. But at its most profound level, prayer is the most powerful thing we can do. We can go to the heart of God and ask God to change the hearts of Putin and others. And if we don’t see immediate results, we will see ultimate results.
Evil ultimately fails. Every war ends. Every empire disappears. The Romans ruled the world in the time of Christ. Where are they now? The Roman forces are long gone, but Christians are everywhere in the world. Putin can inflict great misery, but God brings great mercy.
People are suffering and dying every day. Jesus suffered and died. Yet, he did not stay dead, and neither will those dying with faith today.
And as we pray, we realize that we do not pray alone. We pray with, and to, Mary, the holy Mother of God. In most images of Mary, she is either holding the infant Jesus, or pointing to the adult Jesus. So if we sometimes feel overwhelmed by the images of darkness, we need to remember that Mary will help to scatter that darkness.
Mary held Jesus in her arms for a while, and always held him in her heart by prayer. You and I have Christ within us as well. Christ’s presence is fed by our reception of the Body of Christ in holy Communion, and by our daily prayer with and to Christ.
Evil is real. But the power of goodness is greater. With Christ in us, and Mary with us, we dare to overcome evil with goodness and Godness.
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