Dear Friends,
In this second week of Lent, the war in Ukraine has escalated. Medieval siege tactics are aimed at the innocent civilians in an attempt to overcome opposition. Brutal attacks on those fleeing the conflict have been condemned and many are trapped unable to flee.
The humanitarian scale of the disaster is growing. And this conflict is reaching our everyday lives with increases in prices of some of the basics of life makes the war seem much closer than other previous conflicts. Threats to our food and energy supplies are real.
Calls to open our borders and our homes to such refugees are now a possibility. The practical response to offer help and money is not going to be a passing phase but will with us for a long time.
The long haul nature of this conflict echoes the long haul of Lent. Jesus was tempted in the wilderness after 40 days, but the tempting did not disappear; it was with him throughout his life, as it is throughout ours. Was he making the right choices? Was his focus on God’s kingdom? How should he respond to the goading of the authorities? Should he run away from the cross while he had the chance?
Our daily temptations may pale into insignificance compared to those of Jesus. Yet when we see the suffering of the hundreds of thousands of fleeing families from Ukraine, and the ways in which receiving countries on their borders are welcoming them, it gives us a perspective on our everyday living. We may complain about the increasing prices in our shops and fuel bills, but we have homes and shelter, food and security.
The current crisis is a reminder of the complex interwoven nature of our world. The ripples from a crisis are felt very quickly reminding us of our mutual belonging and humanity. Somehow Lent seems more real this year.
Peace
Tim