About “our own” God on both sides of the war
On how faith becomes an argument in favor of one’s own side. Illustrative photo from open sources
I read a Russian bishop’s account of how a Ukrainian bullet lodged in a prayer book in the pocket of a Russian soldier, and the Russian soldier did not die. A miracle. Therefore, God is with the Russians.
Then, the other day, I read a Ukrainian priest’s account of how a Russian bullet lodged in an icon in the pocket of a Ukrainian soldier, and the Ukrainian soldier did not die. A miracle. Therefore, God is with the Ukrainians.
It is clear enough that both sides, with their lavish prayers for the victory of their own army, are trying to persuade God to be precisely on their side. And, of course, against the other side.
But God Himself, it seems, has still not quite made up His mind. One moment He helps these ones, the next moment those ones. He saves these, then He saves those. One detects here a certain divine lack of discrimination.
After all, both sides have explained everything to Him quite clearly:
“Give us victory! Us!”
“Give us – Russians/Ukrainians – the victory!”
And yet He keeps insisting on doing things His own way, on deciding for Himself, without our helpful instructions.
It is almost embarrassing – on God’s behalf.
Read also
About “our own” God on both sides of the war
Two similar “miracles” – and two opposite conclusions about God.
If Christians “moved in” like this
A text with reverse logic about migration and expectations from society.
Three years later: Fresh attempts to recarve the church landscape
Three years after the events in the Lavra, new calls are being heard to revise agreements with the UOC and hand monasteries over to the OCU.
The effort that transforms: Why fasting begins with the simple things
Lately, one idea is heard more and more often: that the main point of fasting is “not to eat each other alive,” and that what’s on your plate doesn’t matter. People repeat that food neither brings you closer to God nor pushes you away from Him, that you should fast “however it works out,” and that all of this is secondary.
When no one receives Holy Communion
Over three and a half years of emigration, we have been in twelve countries. And everywhere we tried to take part in local liturgical life and to receive Communion.
Deep сauses of military failures
The fact that Zaluzhnyi has finally been allowed to speak about the events of past days, I regard as a positive sign. The “expired guarantor” is gradually being squeezed, subtle but unmistakable hints are being sent – even by the British. And this is only a small fraction of what could now be said about the global military miscalculations of the ruling team.