The suffering of the Ukrainian people is one with the Passion of the Lord, writes Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski

When we reflect on the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, and on the suffering He endured on that memorable Friday in Jerusalem, we can imagine Him being led with brutality through the streets of the Holy City and being nailed to the Cross for our sins. The humanity in us wants the pain to stop. However, we also understand that He voluntarily underwent His Passion for our sake and for our salvation; such is God’s love for us. 

When we love someone, we commit to loving a person not only in the joyful and happy times, but also in the times of sorrow and pain: sharing in and taking on the beloved person’s suffering. Here, the incarnate Son of God so loves His fallen creation that He takes upon Himself the most profound consequences of the Fall, including death itself. 

Given free will, rather than choosing to follow the Lord as creatures created in His image and likeness, we have allowed and continue to allow ourselves to be seduced by the Deceiver, who tempts us into evil works and into darkness posing as virtue and light. 

How ironic that the Evil One is named Lucifer, the “One-who-carries-Light,” for He stands against the One who is the Light of the World (cf John 8:12). But we are reassured in the Prologue of the Gospel of John: “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4-5). In the Byzantine tradition that text is read on Easter Sunday.

Today we are witnessing the ongoing suffering of the people of Ukraine because of the evil actions of its neighbour. Russia has unleashed a campaign of violence and destruction that shocks us by its inhumanity. Many are saying that this unspeakable suffering has not been seen in recent history, but the truth is that we haven’t been paying attention and have let down our guard. 

We think of places like Bosnia, Chechnya, Syria, Georgia and even Ukraine over the last eight years. Somehow, we were able to look away and managed to convince ourselves that it really didn’t concern us, much like those who saw Jesus being led to Golgotha, but looked away and tried not to draw too much attention to themselves. 

Today the entire world sees the senseless violence in Ukraine and the suffering of the Ukrainian people. Some try to look away, or even suggest that “they probably deserved it” because there are “always two sides” to the story. However, the vast majority of us understand that something has gone horribly wrong. 

An entire country almost three times the size of the United Kingdom is being bombed and invaded, with the civilian population intentionally being targeted, day after day. In our Ukrainian brothers and sisters we recognise our own fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters. We think, but for the grace of God, there go I. The Spirit of Truth moves us to compassion towards the widows and orphans, and towards the mother with young children whose husband is defending his land from the invader. 

While the world community has shown great solidarity and support, and a willingness to take in at least some of the millions of persons displaced by the war, if the evil that has arisen is to be defeated—and it must be defeated for humanity’s sake—then we must do more. Above all, we cannot and must not look away, for the Crucified Christ is present in those who suffer.

On this Good Friday, as we commemorate the Passion of the Lord, betrayed, unjustly condemned, mocked, crowned with thorns, scourged, spat upon and crucified, let us reflect on our fallen nature, which in spite of Christ’s sacrifice and ultimate victory over sin, continues to rear its ugly head. 

Let us gaze upon the Son with the eyes of His Mother, the Most Holy Theotokos, as with broken heart she watches her Son, all covered in wounds, being led to His death. But let us also be assured of Christ’s victory, for in His Resurrection He sets free those who accept the Light and understand what it means to be children of the Light. 

Let us pray for Ukraine and its people; that the Cross it is bearing be not unto death, but unto life. May they find strength and courage to withstand the terror that has been visited upon them. Let us also pray for the invaders, that the Holy Spirit may open their eyes and that they may be horrified by their works. May their blindness be lifted from their eyes and may they be granted spiritual sight. 

For this we must pray, in hope against hope, if we truly believe in the victory of the Risen Christ.

The Rt Revd Kenneth Nowakowski is Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London. 

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