Why do we and the Pharisees often fast, and your disciples do not fast?”

 Jesus answered: “Can the wedding guests mourn?… But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast.”

Verily, we are not in a position of marital joy. One of the reasons is that our homeland is also close to war, and we have war refugees here. That is also why Pope Francis called for prayers and fasting for Ukraine. If we pray well, we cannot stop at prayer because worship should lead to action. Actions, that’s fasting. In the prayer after the offering (preface) during Lent, we pray to imitate God’s goodness by sharing the bread. We also help materially war refugees, especially women and children. Many Ukrainian men remained to defend those who could not escape. Many have run out of gas; trains are not running… Terrible situation.

The question is, should we also help them in defense, for example, with weapons? We can think from this point of view: Imagine that someone attacked your children and family. You would defend them. Let’s move it: Someone attacks the neighbor’s family. You should probably help. Let’s expand it: There is a big family of Slavic brotherly nations: Greater Russia and weaker Ukraine. Russia invaded Ukraine. Children, women, and civilians are also dying. Should we watch or help?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church can help us with the answer, which is text number 2265: “Justified defense can be not only a right but also a serious duty for those responsible for the lives of others. Defending the common good requires neutralizing the unjust invader. For this reason, the rightful representatives of power have the right to use weapons to repel the invaders of the civil society entrusted to their responsibility.”

In text number 2308, we read: “Every citizen and every government official is obliged to contribute to the avoidance of wars. As long as there is a danger of war and there is a lack of a competent international authority equipped with adequate military power, governments cannot be denied the right to legitimate defense if all means of peaceful settlement have been exhausted.” I will also remind you that Ukraine is not a member of “a competent international authority equipped by adequate military power.” Does she have to defend herself?