For the LORD comforts his people and shows mercy to his afflicted. - Isaiah

Where’s God?

With masses of people fleeing the horrors of war in Ukraine, it’s a question many of us are asking as we confront heartbreaking image, especially those of dead and suffering children.

Why God? Why? What about the promise in today’s reading from Isaiah that the Lord “comforts his people and shows mercy to his afflicted?” Where’s the mercy and comfort for these poor innocent people?  

With things so dark, what message can we draw from this timely passage?

Even as I question God, I hear him asking me, “Where are YOU? What are YOU doing for my people? You know that I act through people like YOU. "

Fair enough, Lord. We must be your instruments on earth even though we feel so helpless now. But I hear your voice reminding me of two things we CAN do:

• Pray for the safety and comfort of the Ukrainian people.

• Contribute to groups like the Red Cross, Catholic Relief Services and Jesuit Refugee Services that are on the scene helping. If we are ever called to welcome some of the refugees, I hope we will respond generously.

I take odd comfort from today’s reading because Isaiah reminds us that tyrants have been driving people from their homes for thousands of years. Maybe there’s hope for the horrors of today although the worldwide problem is staggering.

The United Nations estimates that there are more than 82 million refugees in the world. Most are the victims of wars or ethnic cleansing that get little coverage in our media. Many are people Americans know nothing about, like the Karen family from Burma that St. John’s Church at Creighton sponsors. If you know anything about the Karen, you’re ahead of where I was when we were assigned our wonderful family.

Working with refugees powerfully reminds us that we are all God’s children.  It is a rich way to grow spiritually even though the actual tasks are mundane. God’s universal family comes alive when you’re driving cute toddlers from a nation you could scarcely locate on a map to a clinic or pre-school. I find myself thanking God that they are in my life.  

As we approach Good Friday, I picture Jesus and Mary en route to Calvary, surrounded by refugees. Are we also in that scene coming to the aid of these suffering people? Are we acting as God’s agents in showing “mercy to his afflicted?”