Few of us had thought that Russia’s execution of war in Ukraine would bring with it the cascade of consequences that it has. The people of Ukraine, as civilians and as military personnel, have been subjected to inhumane cruelties, families have been broken up with members scattered to parts of the world where they have had no option but to make their home away separated from home at home. The consequences of the war are far flung too, leading to fuel and food poverty for millions worldwide together with political instability.
In this devastation, we dare to celebrate Christmas. Into this devastation, God comes faithfully through the birth of his Son, Jesus Christ. And God does so in order to redeem the world, not to condemn the world. This is our hope. This is our responsibility as children of God – to bring and to give redemption by human acts of kindness, by prayers for others as for ourselves.
Recently I was shown a Ukrainian doll, made from cloth, which deliberately has no features. This is to enable the holder to project on to such a doll, while holding it, his or her own feelings. Christmas 2022 may prove to be like this as we project the hopes and fears of all the years on to the infant of Mary and pray for the redemption of the world.
+Michael
Dublin and Glendalough