Friday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Nahum 2:1.3.3:1-3.6-7; Matthew 16:24-28)
In today’ first reading the prophet Nahum describes the
ravage of Assyria’s war against Israel.
He mentions “plunder” and “looting.”
He speaks of “the flame of the sword” and “the flash of the spear.” He does not hesitate to include “the many slain, the heaping corpses,
the endless bodies to stumble upon.”
Seventy-five years ago the United States dropped atomic bombs on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. In this
time of mournful remembering, Nahum’s imagery conjures up those horrible events.
In a sense the atomic bombs were no
worse – one might even say “not as bad” – as the penetration bombing of Tokyo and
Dresden. If not exactly targeted, civilians
were not avoided in those devastating air raids. Of course, the injustices perpetrated by
German and Japanese military needs recalling in any account of war’s
atrocities. Nevertheless, the atomic
bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki catapulted war into a new stratosphere. These bombs not only killed and maimed; they
also left their mark on future generations.
Children will continue to be born with transmuted genes.
It is absolutely necessary that
humanity strives for the elimination of nuclear weapons. Christians can lead the way. By denying ourselves, as Jesus exhorts in
today’s gospel, we can show the world a better way. What if Christians held ecumenical prayer
vigils and peaceful demonstrations exhibiting humankind’s desire for nuclear
disarmament? Is it not possible that in
time, with God’s help, these efforts have positive effect?
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