CAN ANYTHING GOOD COME OUT OF RUSSIA?

Hot on the heals of  the global battle to overcome COVID-19 and, recent impacts of Global Warming through floods, landslips and horrifying fires has come Putin’s/Russia’s war against Ukraine. Some of us begin to feel quite overwhelmed as members of the human family. And on top of it, Queen Elizabeth II has died and our national service of remembrance takes place tomorrow, Mon 26th Sept.

Wars and rumours of war have plagued humankind from the beginning of the race. It seems that human inhumanity to other humans knows no bounds as the vivid images being beamed around the globe confront us with horrific carnage and the wanton destruction of human life, let alone of the creation on which we are so dependent.

Today’s Gospel reading from John (17:1-8) invites us to pray like Jesus to the Father. He prayed with confidence that His disciples got it and believed that He was the Messiah to be followed. Now we pray with Jesus as modern day disciples, that the war between east and west, Russia and NATO, with their allies including New Zealand, can be won in the heavenlies. Certainly it cannot be won by human warfare.

Perhaps our prayer to the Father needs to be that diplomacy wins with peace the outcome. God knows how to achieve this; may we know heavenly wisdom  to pray and believe that. As God was the victor in the life of Russia’s patron Saint Sergius in the 14th Century; so in the 21st Century may Russia draw similar strength to eschew war for peace. And may the western allies work/pray hard to move in a spirit other than warfare, & win the victory we all desire: peace.
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I believe our P.M. moves in this other spirit as she ensures the Russian Ambassador, Georgii Zuev, remains in NZ. Let’s pray for him, and for her, as the communication channels remain open: that meaningful  dialogue happens here and there!           

Terry Alve     

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SERGIUS RADONEZH
Sergius, born about 1314, was a simple man of the people, whose life of devotion and prayer led him to establish monasteries all over Russia and to teach ordinary people the ways of godly living. He and his brother Stephen rebuilt the monastery of the Holy Trinity near Moscow, and Sergius became its abbot. He died in 1392 and is the patron saint of the Russian people.
SAINTS DAY: 25 SEPTEMBER