Homily

War happens sometimes when people want to be free from a power or a country that is oppressing them. Our own country had its beginning because it wanted independence and freedom from the British Empire. We didn’t declare war on England, but England made war against us because it didn’t want to lose the colonies.

War can also start when a country wants to steal the freedom of another independent nation and gain power and control over it against the will of the people. So, we see this situation today in Ukraine. Ukraine did not declare war on Russia, but Russia has made war against Ukraine.

Every day during Lent we say the Prayer of St. Ephrem and the first part is, “O Lord and Master of my life, keep from me the spirit of indifference and discouragement, lust of power and idle chatter.” I think of Vladimir Putin. He certainly has the spirit of indifference—he does not seem to care how many lives are lost, how many wounded and injured are suffering, how many sick and suffering will die. Idle chatter? Lies are certainly a type of idle chatter, he practices it almost non-stop every day. But lust for power. Lust for power. Isn’t that at the very root of this war, a lust for power? Isn’t it at the root of so many wars, this desire to dominate and control other peoples, other nations? It seems to me that war is the ultimate in lusting for power.

We are not Putin. We are not looking to conquer another country. Are we ever guilty of lusting for power? Do I feel the need to be right in most or all situations? Do I argue with other people not to discuss a topic but to win the argument? Do I ever coerce, lie, bribe, mislead or threaten others to get my own way? Do I see money and material goods as the fundamental source of my security? How often am I annoyed because my duties or other people keep me from doing what I want to do? Have I ever rushed to beat someone to a parking place or a place in line? Have I been irritated when my rush to beat someone in line did not succeed? These are just a few examples of how, perhaps, there might be a little more lusting after power than we might think.

When Jesus finished His 40-day fast before He began His public ministry, Satan tempted Him in the desert two times, to show His power by changing stones into bread and to jump off the roof of the Temple so that angels would save Him. Satan's third and last temptation was to offer the Lord the authority over all the powers of the world if He would only bow down to acknowledge Satan's power. But Jesus refused. He came into this world not to gain power for Himself but to provide a way, for all those who wish to take it, access to the very power of His own divine life, a share in glory of God. That access to power was given to us at our baptism. It is not in the power of fame, or knowledge, or money, or ruling or any of the temporary powers the world holds so dear and so important. It's the power of truth over lies, peace over conflict, the power of trust in God over safety in material goods. It's the power of prayer over constant busyness, the power of patience over anger, of serving rather than being served. It's the power of giving, over misplaced desires, of loving, rather than focusing on how we are loved, the power of humility over pride, confession over sin and virtue over weakness and want.

We may not always be aware of it but we basically do have a lot of thought and action in our lives that revolves around the need we feel to have power in our own hands. We generally, probably, don't often see it as a desire for power and control, and yet at the core, that is what it's about. It's true, we may not be plotting the overthrow of the government to the north of us so that we can be crowned as Emperor of Canada. But where we look for power, and how we use it has a tremendous impact on the character of our lives. St. Paul tells us that Christ came to empty Himself out for us, so that we can in turn might embrace Him and His supreme loving kindness. That's the power we need. So very many people in Ukraine today, who are under attack, and not in positions of power could easily end up in despair and hopeless. But they are putting their trust in Christ, even as they carry out their duties for their families and their country.

It's easy to look out into the world and find people like Putin who, no matter how much power they hold, are never satisfied. I am certain that if he is already thinking about what he can take next if he could succeed in conquering Ukraine. Never satisfied. It's more difficult to look at our own lives and recognized the many ways in which we may be lusting and grabbing for power to use for ourselves. But it is absolutely true that the only lasting, satisfying and worthy source of power for ourselves is found in our life in Christ, and to Him be the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.