The poor will yet again lose out in a war that has shattered the European dream, Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick said of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In his March 6, 2022, homily on the first Sunday of Lent, Bishop Leahy said that while we must continue to dream, we must now acknowledge reality. But reality is also about the potential always to build a-new, he said.
“When a dream is shattered, there is grief. Europe’s dream has been shattered with the war in Ukraine. 75 years after the Second World War we had hoped the great dream of a Europe at peace had really taken hold. But that dream has been shattered,” he said.
“It’s a moment for all of us to take stock. Yes, we must dream and hope and believe in peace, but we also need to recognise peace is the fruit of our unity with one another. And we have to work at that. No relationship can ever be taken for granted.
“While watching the war on our social media and TVs, we’re seeing again how the powerful wage war, but the poor lose out. So many ordinary folk are facing questions of life and death. We can’t but feel our stomach-churning at the sight of innocent young people on both sides whose lives are tragically cut short. And so many fleeing their native land. The ray of consolation at this time is, of course, the incredible outpouring of small and big gestures of solidarity and generous donations from around the world.”
Bishop Leahy said that all of this is happening just as we are entering the season of Lent which this year will have a focus on Ukraine through prayer and giving.
“Lent is very much associated with giving and giving is good for us in every way. After all, we are created to give. It reflects what’s truly in our soul. Thankfully, in the face of horror, giving is still flourishing now.
“Limerick is a giving city and county and that’s very much reflected in the response to Ukraine. The wonderful response that has seen individuals such as Anna Mazeika, a young Polish woman, step forward courageously to commit to gathering a truckload of medical supplies from generous Limerick people for hospitals in Ukraine. There are many other examples and it keeps that light shining, a light of hope which will ultimately overcome darkness. Just as the Lenten experience.”
The commitment to Ukraine in terms of giving and prayer, he said, must continue. “But there’s also a spiritual contribution we can make – we can check out our own personal commitment to building relationships that are genuine and true and just. Perhaps there is some relationship that has been damaged in recent times or one that needs a new effort on our part because things have grown stale. Lent is about beginning again. We don’t have to wait for others to be the first to reach out to us. We can take the initiative. The Ukraine crisis is about a breakdown in relationships. Let’s do our part to build good relationships.”
Bishop Leahy added that to mark Lent this year, the Diocese of Limerick pastoral outreach team has developed a ‘Live, Love, Lent’ program that includes daily thoughts, images, reflections, and prayers with a different theme each week posted daily on the Diocesan Facebook which is set up for Facebook and non-Facebook members to access at https://www.facebook.com/dioceseoflimerick.
There will, he said, be an introductory video at the start of each week explaining the theme, each day at 7 am an image will be posted with prayers, food for thought, and/or ideas for action. Fr Chris O’Donnell will then host a review of the week each Sunday evening at 8:30pm live on Facebook where people can chat and share experiences and learning.
