Wednesday of Week 31 in Ordinary Time
Rm 13:8-10
Lk 14:25-33
You must love your neighbour as yourself.
As I find myself surrounded by news of war, I cannot help but reflect on what a tragedy it has been and continues to be. I do not wish to engage in a debate or take sides, but to lament at the cost of war. No war has ever been fought that has not suffered any losses. There are no victors. There are no victors if you look at the lives of families from either side torn apart by the ravages of war. Livelihoods gone to pieces, dreams turned to ashes…The worst victims of war, I feel, are the children. I often wonder why such innocent lives were even put on earth for a few scant years, only to be taken away so cruelly by acts of war. What child should even have to witness horrors such as what we have seen in recent days and years.
I take a somewhat naïve view that all children should rightfully be loved, be allowed to enjoy their childhood, to grow up in a safe world, that the only tears that they should shed are over scraped knees…I know that that is mostly a pipe dream. The world is not a fair place. And I fear for them. For those who do not have such rights, such freedom, be it because of war, or social injustices, or domestic situations, I fear for them, and I pray for them, no matter their creed, country, or colour.
When I read of the unimaginable horrors, I can’t imagine the fear and trauma that these children have had to go through. It is hard enough for an adult, let alone a child. Their families, caught up in the same situation, are defenseless, helpless, wishing they were able to protect them. But as a society, have we failed our children? For the few who will survive today’s tragedies, will they grow up only knowing that hate is the root of everything, and hate will get you what you want? Will they never know love, having lost the source of love at tender ages? Their innocence will forever be marred by the tragedy that they find themselves in. And they too will probably wonder, “Why? Why me? Why my family?”
I have no right to preach. What voice do I have? But what little I can do, I must do. And so, I implore, to please pray for the little ones, pray for the children who had to grow up too soon, for children who are victims of this crazy world that we live in, pray that they will know love again, and safety, that their tears will dry and their scars will heal, that we will show them love, for love will heal. For the children who have died, may angels bear their little souls heavenward where there is no pain and love is eternal. There are no victors in war, least of all the children.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Annette Soo)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, whatever words I can eke out, I cry to you, please let there be an end to wars, now and forever. Protect our children, and as keepers of the next generation, help us protect them too from pain and suffering that no child should ever have to go through. Let love win the day.
Thanksgiving: We give thanks to God for the beautiful souls of our children, who are promises of a better future and better versions of ourselves. May we never fail them.
OXYGEN 
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