麻豆社

Good Morning,

A Foreign Minister once said, 鈥漈his unheard of attack upon our country is perfidy unparalleled in the history of civilised nations.鈥�
That was 1941. Russia鈥檚 Foreign Minister was speaking on behalf of Joseph Stalin as German troops flooded across the Soviet border.

His name Vyacheslav Molotov. Now some 80 years on Russia inflicts upon Ukraine a similar 鈥榩erfidy鈥�. With more than a touch of irony, Molotov gave his name to improvised petrol bombs which are now used by some Ukrainians to defend themselves against the Russian invasion with Molotov cocktails.
All this as Orthodox Christians both in Russia and Ukraine have celebrated Christmas this past weekend.
Yesterday, in a small North Yorkshire village I took a Service of Holy Communion, the fellowship deepened by the presence of a Ukrainian woman now living in our midst.

But this is a sad season for Christianity. One nation baptised into the Orthodox Faith laying siege to a sister nation immersed in the same religion.
For some this might invalidate the truth of Christianity. For others it鈥檚 a sign that that no religion protects us from perfidy or any other sin. Jesus, who knew the heart of humanity, was only too aware of how religious people could do the cruellest crucifying deeds.
Later this month Christians will remember the conversion of St Paul. As a zealous believer in God, he was stalking the land killing followers of Christ thinking he was doing God鈥檚 will. Just as I suppose the Orthodox Patriarch Kiril thought he was doing God鈥檚 will when he blessed President Putin and his generals for what he has called 鈥榓 holy war鈥�.

But on that road to Damascus Saul, as he was known, was stopped in his tracks by a metaphysical voice from Heaven questioning him, 鈥榃hy are you persecuting ME?鈥�. That blinding encounter made him see that every creature he killed was an assault on their Creator and his.
Only God knows the prayers prayed this Christmas in the Orthodox Churches of Russia and Ukraine. Should anyone have prayed about 鈥榯he perfidy鈥� of war crimes and the slaughter of innocents, it can only be hoped by people of faith that a voice from Heaven might yet reach all those who start wars and commit war crimes with that arresting question - 鈥漌hy are you persecuting ME?鈥�

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