By Fr. Glenn Jones:

Images of bombings, smoke, freedom fighters are strewn across the news sites once again. Heavy sigh.  Over 30 years after the tearing down of “The Wall” in Berlin and the subsequent breakup of the Soviet Union—hardly even a generation—Russia sets it sights westward once again, making incursions into Ukraine, then…? Peace shattered in Europe once again. As General MacArthur remarked in his farewell speech to West Point, it does seem that “Only the dead have seen the end of war.”

Obviously—lamentably—there are always wars, rebellions and conflicts throughout the world. One could also argue that terrorism itself is simply a form of covert and decentralized warfare—war by unconventional means. Perhaps focus on European conflicts garners more attention because most Americans are of some European ancestry, but likely even more so due to Europe being the flash point for the two World Wars, leading to speculation—and trepidation—that it’ll be the flash point for a third—reminding of a quote often attributed to Einstein: “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.”

But why do peoples and nations go to war? What drives Man to initiate the calamitous carnage of warfare? Most common reasons seem to include the accumulation of wealth and resources, advancing an ideology, and sometimes simply the megalomaniacal amassing of power/prestige of certain rulers. Or, for defenders, prevention of, or freedom from, same. Such has been the apparent case since humans were first able to pick up sticks as weapons, and even before.

We see some of this same appetite in the animal world—the scrapping for territory, warfare, localized genocide, fighting for breeding rights, domination. Indeed, lower primates such as chimpanzees and many carnivores will often raid into neighboring territories when they are strong enough. Males, especially, in testosterone-fueled pride and fury often fight to the death for dominance and breeding rights.

But so insatiable is Man that no amount ever seems to reach a point of being “enough”. No matter how much is accumulated, there is more that is desired. We see this in business a lot—corporations gobbling one another to become bigger and ever more profitable, undercutting the “little guy” to force him out of business for market share, etc. After all, dear reader who has more-than-average wealth: Have you reached a point where you have said: “Enough; I have too much and want no more”? Yet, even if so blessed with material things, are you as blessed with spiritual?

Christian philosophers have seen this insatiability of spirit as a “proof” that humans are made not so much for this world but for another existence, arguing that if there is nothing or no amount in the material existence that can satisfy, the soul longs for that which it knows “in shadow”, as it were … something the spirit longs for that this world is incapable of providing. Indeed, because of this realization St. Augustine writes so famously in his classic “Confessions”: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee [God]”.

Yet some have “touched the sky” even in earthly life. St. Francis of Assisi, one of the most beloved saints in the world for his selflessness and simplicity, certainly would have agreed with Augustine. Though early on a soldier and searcher of glory and son of a wealthy merchant, he forfeited all to serve God and his fellow Man, living a minimalist existence with contentment and joy. “What can you take from a man who has nothing,” he said. He and many saints glimpsed the eternal “pearl of great price” which would someday fill the insatiable human soul.

Thus, the futility of glutting our own animal tendencies and expecting fulfillment. So much better is to not plot excessive accumulation of things or status, or to seek inordinate power or influence, but rather to use that which we DO have in ways that are helpful to all. “What man IS a man who does not make the world better?” is a movie quote (“Kingdom of Heaven”), and yet conveys an extraordinary truth that ought to be part of the operating spirit of every person. What does it mean to be “human” if we have not humanity? Charity? Love? If we only devour and do not contribute to good, we become parasitical—a tapeworm in the gut of society. Even someone helpless and fully dependent on others contributes more in their own way than the material glutton, providing opportunity—seedbed—for the cultivation of charity and selfless love of neighbor.

How will the current Russia-Ukraine conflict end? Some say Russia is simply carrying out military action in facilitating freedom for breakaway provinces in eastern Ukraine. We’ll see. But that sounds hauntingly like Hitler’s “freeing” of the Sudetenland prior to WWII, eventually demanding Czechoslovakia for “living space”. Sadly, history shows that conquest often becomes an addiction for rulers—certainly in Russian history. It reminds of a story of a frog ferrying a scorpion across a river. The scorpion stings the frog, which cries out: “Why? Now we’ll both die!” The scorpion replied: “I couldn’t help it; it’s my nature.”

So, again we are reminded how essential is self-control of primal instinct. There is no need to keep ever grasping—more wealth, power, glory, etc.—but rather the virtuous man or woman will seek the good of his neighbor even before his own—advancing a principle of “pay it forward” for the good of all.

As the Lenten season approaches with Ash Wednesday this week, we Catholics do minor fasting and abstinence partially for this very purpose—to practice control of earthly appetite, knowing with St. Augustine that our true food is of heavenly origin. May God bless you and your families and all the world this Lent and Easter seasons. Pray the world may—one day—finally come to know “peace on earth”.

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“…to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father…Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

“…we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world; but if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” (1 Timothy 6:7-9)

Editor’s note: Rev. Glenn Jones is the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and former pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Alamos.