A Ukrainian serviceman walks at the site of a Russian airstrike in Sumy, Ukraine, on Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine. REUTERS/Sofiia Gatilova TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
3 Ride on, ride on, while well aware
that those who shout and wave and stare
are mortals who, with common breath,
can crave for life and lust for death.
4 Ride on, ride on, though blind with tears,
though voiceless now and deaf to jeers.
Your path is clear, though few can tell
their garments pave the road to hell.
Ruth intended to be out of town this past weekend but her plans changed. This meant that we were able to attend Palm/Passion Sunday worship at Trenton United Church. Most of the time living with one vehicle suits us just fine and I do get find ways to get around but I wasn't up to cycling the 22 kilometres each way for the service.
Later in the day we heard that 7,400 kilometres away 34 people in the Ukrainian city of Sumy were killed by a Russian ballistic missile, some of whom were Christians on their way to Palm Sunday worship. One of two missiles hit a trolley bus full of passengers and two of the dead were children. Many more were injured.
This senseless war of unprovoked aggression by Russia regularly targets civilians. It is supported by the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church even though more than 600 places of worship in Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed and half of those are Orthodox.
Many world leaders condemned this attack, including Prime Minister Mark Carney. Inexplicably President Donald Trump described it as a "mistake" when it is clear that Russia intends to target and terrorize civilians.
According to a Roman Catholic news service:
The Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, the largest organization of religious leaders in Ukraine, also condemned the strikes, which took place amid both the Jewish holiday of Passover (April 12-20, 2025) and the Christian observance of Holy Week.
“Despite the festal period associated with the celebration of the Jewish Passover and Christian Easter, the Russian state continues to terrorize Ukrainian cities and villages day and night with drone and missile attacks, as well as shelling,” said the council in a statement.
The council added, “Such actions demonstrate that nothing is sacred for the state that declares itself to be ‘Holy Rus,'” referencing a longstanding theological and political concept that positions Russia as a defender of traditional Christian values.
I'm not big on the notion of hell but I'll entertain the possibility of reserved spots for clergy who support the murder of children on such an important day in the Christian calendar, or any other day for that matter. What possesses people to harbour such hatred in the name of the God of love and reconciliation in Jesus Christ? They crucify Jesus again with their actions.
We sang some wonderful hymns yesterday although not the one I've included here which speaks so strongly to this bleak moment in history
5 Ride on, ride on, God's love demands.
Justice and peace lie in your hands.
Evil and angel voices rhyme:
you are the man and this the time.
A police officer inspects bodies at the site of Russian airstrike in Sumy, Ukraine, on Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine. (OSV News photo/Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy via Telegram handout via Reuters)
4 comments:
I feel like just don't have the words anymore to describe what's happening to the people of Ukraine nor the words to call out the perpetrators. The suffering continues in unspeakable ways.....KB
That's an appropriate way to put it, Kathy. I find that blogging helps me order my thoughts about different subjects and circumstances yet at times I am stymied as to what to say. It feels so inadequate in the face of such suffering and evil.
I wish there was some way NATO could intervene in force and stop this horrible assault!
I would settle for the US joining with the rest of NATO in condemning Russian aggression. Thanks Judy.
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