Once more, it is war, knocking on the doors of peaceful people, demolishing their homes and what they have built in terms of civilization.

These are machines of killing and destruction, operated by those blind to insight, commanded by the conscienceless, driven by people whose hearts are ruled by greed.

It is war, ladies and gentlemen, coming at you from nowhere, like the dragon of the Mediterranean landing on the shores of the Land of Canaan, sowing terror and annihilation, before being slain by Saint George, the bearer of victory.

The sleeping and secure people awake to the sound of its drums, not knowing who beats them, those who dictate to them the books of ruin, displacement, and misery, sending them into the unknown.

Nations in their daily life, families in their homes, children in their schools, workers in their workplaces, do not await war, nor do they know why it is forced upon them by authorities indifferent to their lives, concerns, and fate.

Most people do not know that behind these apparent states are hidden powers plotting in secret for their own extremely narrow interests, defined by their wealth and power.

In war, the famous saying rings true: “To kill a man in a forest is an unforgivable crime; to kill a whole nation is a matter for debate.”

These very states that preach the protection of human rights, the care for those with special needs, the sick, the poor, and all the marginalized and vulnerable groups in the world, and that impose ethical behavior in daily life, even extending to animal welfare and the protection of endangered species, are the same societies that excel in producing deadly weapons and compete furiously to develop ever more effective tools of extermination.

What a contradictory and hypocritical creature you are, O human!

We all know that industrial society thrives on war, for ordinary consumption does not satisfy the greed of those seeking quick profit, meaning that humans are capable of killing, annihilating, displacing, and burning for the vast wealth that allows them to control political decision-making in countries worldwide.

In Lebanon, there is a popular saying: “A person’s eye is not satisfied except by a handful of dust,” meaning only when buried in the ground. This saying has proven true, as greed has blinded the powerful to the point of threatening human existence itself, as is the case in the current war in our region.

We, the children of the churches, believers in the message of the Incarnate Lord, who overcame the world through love and peace, He who said, “All who take the sword will perish by the sword”, say to all those holding the decisions of war and peace in this world: Generations you deprived of normal life, whose future you destroyed and whose lives you ended, will hold you to account, and your names will be marked with shame until the Day of Judgment.

From the mountain, the Son of Man addressed the crowds that came to hear His life-giving words, and they heard Him say: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth... Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God... You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not kill, and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother without cause will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to hell fire... You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven...”

Between these divine, peace-giving words and the cannons that destroy souls before homes and institutions, lies the difference between the true human and the beast that occasionally emerges from the jungles of modern society, where people are adept at beautifying their savage faces or hiding them behind masks of false meekness.

There is no need to master beautifying or manufacturing masks, for all these have fallen under the blows of iron and fire.

This is a historic challenge for the Church, posed once again, making it cling even more tightly to its values and the need to continue preaching the faith of salvation, safeguarding and protecting the human soul from the devils who roam our lives spreading evil and ruin.

Even though it feels as if we have returned to square one of human civilization every time war erupts and the slaughter intensifies, we believe that the path we follow is the only way to lead humanity toward the advancement rooted in the love of the Lord who gave Himself for humankind.