For the past several months, as Vladimir Putin stockpiled tens of thousands of troops on Ukraine’s doorstep, the world braced for war, fearing the worst yet praying that the Russian president was simply puffing out his chest and flexing his military might like a bully in the schoolyard who didn’t intend to actually fight.
On the morning of Feb. 24, however, our collective fear became a tragic reality as videos of deadly airstrikes and Russian military convoys crossing into Ukraine quickly flooded cable news channels and social media feeds in the United States and around the world. The condemnation of the invasion was swift and widespread. Pope Francis said he was “heartbroken” for the people of Ukraine, and Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the head of the Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine, called upon all people of goodwill “not to ignore the suffering of the Ukrainian people.”
Given our 24-hour access to the stories and videos of such tremendous suffering, it is almost impossible to ignore. Commentators called Russia’s invasion the most aggressive attack on the European continent since the end of World War II. But 80 years ago, there were no regularly scheduled television news broadcasts, let alone 24-hour cable news channels. Any news of the war in Europe then was delivered via radio, newspaper, or newsreels.
Aside from those engaged on the battlefield, rarely did anyone see up close the devastating and deadly effects of war — the destruction of homes and businesses and, worse, the loss of human life.
Now, of course, we can watch it live on our phones while we lounge in our chairs, or brush our teeth, or walk our dogs. We are fed slow-motion shots of the very moment when a missile detonates upon reaching its target. We are able to see satellite images of troop movements and cellphone videos of freshly bombed-out buildings.
Sadly, if we divorce ourselves from the real human tragedies of war, we can allow it to become simply another form of entertainment — akin to watching an action movie or playing a video game.
While this unjust war is being waged half a world away, however, we must always acknowledge that with every missile strike or artillery fire, people are suffering; lives are being displaced and lost.
There is a short video that has circulated on social media showing nurses caring for newborns who were taken out of their neonatal intensive care unit and placed side by side on cots in the hospital’s basement, their oxygen tanks and heart monitors haphazardly set up next to them.
There are stories of brave clergymen who have refused to flee for their own safety and instead have vowed to remain in Ukraine so that they can continue to shepherd their flocks during their time of need.
There are stories of mothers and fathers who have sent their children to safety so that they can remain to fight alongside their countrymen.
The human toll of this war is impossible to escape. Instead of viewing these tragedies casually as we scroll through our phones, justice demands that we see them through a lens of compassion, love, and action.
This Lent, as we contemplate the suffering of Christ during his passion and death, let us truly see the victims of this war, and let us pray that their suffering will water the seeds of peace.
(From this week's "Our Sunday Visitor" newspaper)