Word and War

Unable to get my mind on anything but the War these days, my inclination is to stay glued to the television. Nothing I can do about it of course, watch, observe that the world has grown another Hitler, allowed another such evil one to rise to power, and now seeing no way to stop him, stands by wringing hands.

To stop him now will require more than, so far, we have been willing to unleash. But, when?

For myself, I see that my economic theory was dead wrong: build a world of peace by developing such economic interdependence among nations that it would be in no nation's interest to risk war that brings prosperity down. Western Europe has been doing it since the Common Market started after WW2 and developed into the EU, and in recent years Germany and the UK have been confidently developing economic interdependence with Russia.

But the theory assumes rationality in human actions, and collapses when a nation led by a figure with total authority brazenly launches war of aggression and, with a finger on the nuclear button, threatens the rest of the world to back off.

So, I was dead wrong: nothing works against human irrationality and lust for power, territory, and grandeur. Either Russia will be allowed to continue Putin's dream, or we are in World War Three from which any nation that emerges and lives will either impose ultimate totalitarianism on the world (which seems to be the way of human nature) or must develop enforceable ways of preventing power from becoming so centralized in the will of one or a small group. Bavarian corporals and resentful, brooding intelligence agents can be stopped before they destroy humanity.

Nations, empires, and civilizations fall for any of several reasons, and the world is now back to that point of upheaval for the current status.

On the personal front, while hurricanes rage, and now wildfires, I actually thought to die of appendicitis, then of nuclear war, then of heart failure, then of pandemic virus. Now back to nuclear war. A mindset of the ultimate immorality surfaced during the Cold War when people built underground shelters and stocked them with food and necessities for surviving, including weapons to kill their neighbors, who, it was anticipated, would come to be let in.

"Oh Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof ... ." Indeed.

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Monday morning: here are the Propers for next Sunday morning ->

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them (us) again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Genesis 15:1-12,17-18

The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, "Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great." But Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" And Abram said, "You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir." But the word of the LORD came to him, "This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir." He brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your descendants be." And he believed the LORD; and the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness.

Then he said to him, "I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess." But he said, "O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?" He said to him, "Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon." He brought him all these and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him.

When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates."

Psalm 27 Page 617, BCP

Dominus illuminatio

The LORD is my light and my salvation;

whom then shall I fear? *

the LORD is the strength of my life;

of whom then shall I be afraid?

When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh, *

it was they, my foes and my adversaries, who

stumbled and fell.

Though an army should encamp against me, *

yet my heart shall not be afraid;

And though war should rise up against me, *

yet will I put my trust in him.

One thing have I asked of the LORD;

one thing I seek; *

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days

of my life;

To behold the fair beauty of the LORD *

and to seek him in his temple.

For in the day of trouble he shall keep me safe

in his shelter; *

he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling

and set me high upon a rock.

Even now he lifts up my head *

above my enemies round about me.

Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblation

with sounds of great gladness; *

I will sing and make music to the LORD.

Hearken to my voice, O LORD, when I call; *

have mercy on me and answer me.

You speak in my heart and say, "Seek my face." *

Your face, LORD, will I seek.

Hide not your face from me, *

nor turn away your servant in displeasure.

You have been my helper;

cast me not away; *

do not forsake me, O God of my salvation.

Though my father and my mother forsake me, *

the LORD will sustain me.

Show me your way, O LORD; *

lead me on a level path, because of my enemies.

Deliver me not into the hand of my adversaries, *

for false witnesses have risen up against me,

and also those who speak malice.

What if I had not believed

that I should see the goodness of the LORD *

in the land of the living!

O tarry and await the LORD'S pleasure;

be strong, and he shall comfort your heart; *

wait patiently for the LORD.

Philippians 3:17-4:1

Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

Luke 13:31-35

Some Pharisees came and said to Jesus, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." He said to them, "Go and tell that fox for me, 'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.' Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’"