Six Adopted Ukrainian Children Abducted by Russian Forces
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
“If any of you cause one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of things that cause sin. Such things are bound to come, but woe to the one through whom they come!
Matthew 18:1-7 NRSVue
We don't know a great deal about how children were regarded across cultures in the first century, and particularly in the early Christian community. There is a sense that even though child mortality rates were high they were considered fully formed humans made in the image of God. There doesn't seem to be any doubt about how Jesus regarded children.
There have been two very different stories about stolen children in this past week, one from Poland and the other from here in Canada.In a speech while in Warsaw on the eve of the first anniversary of Russia's war on Ukraine, President Biden spoke about the thousands of children, as many as 14,000, some as young as a few months old, who have been taken from the country by the invaders. The have been abducted by invading Russian soldiers to be raised in camps, brainwashed as a form of cultural genocide. It is a hideous aspect of this unprovoked war, an injustice somehow supported by the Russian Orthodox church.
The other is regarding the discovery of seventeen likely unmarked graves on the grounds of a former residential school at the Tseshaht First Nation in British Columbia. The Alberni Indian Residential School was run by the United Church of Canada until 1969. We are aware of the terribly abuses of these schools run by various denominations across the country, victimizing Indigenous children who were abducted by the federal government and essentially incarcerated in these institutions.
My heart is so heavy at the thought of both the historical and current injustices which were perpetrated or sanctioned by those who claim to be followers of Jesus. The disconnnect from Jesus' own teaching is incomprehensible yet irrefutable. How could these religious wolves in sheep's clothing not quake at the words of warning and judgement which are a rare aspect of Jesus' message?
I'm not sure what to say or pray, to be honest, yet I feel that these circumstances can't be allowed to dwell in the darkness. How they will be revealed in the light of Christ, and how justice will prevail, remains to be seen.
Here is the link to the initial statement by the United Church regarding the Alberni School findings
https://united-church.ca/news/initial-statement-findings-port-alberni-residential-institution
2 comments:
Heartbreaking news, indeed ! It seems we are helpless to stop the indignities in the Ukraine, due to Putin's insanity. We can do many things here in Canada to restore right relationships - and it starts with us admitting that indigenous people are made in God's image, as we are... I remember, as a young child, hearing my elders talk abut native peoples as if they were lesser than we are. That white supremacy attitude still reigns in many parts of our country.... we are missing so much by not hearing the wisdom , and recognizing the humanity, of the indigenous people . They are not children of a lesser God.
Yes and yes Judy. Thank you.
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