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The Good of Going to War
Plough shares are blessed, but of so little worth
If hope is nil for fruit and harvest’s yield,
And barren wasteland is the dreary earth,
Until from swamp or dross is cleaned the field.
The wounding steel may have to expurgate
As tool of God in soldier’s hands wherewith
His love must cleanse first to invigorate
The clots so the earth again may breathe.
Plough as you will, but you will not succeed,
And useless plough shares, pruning hooks and seed,
Unless the Father first prepares the field
And makes it ready to be ploughed and tilled.
Apologize not for the bruising steel
That makes the land conditioned and prepared
Be patient, rather trusting, wait until
The land is ready and its ills repaired. .
Of war - its true - Jesus did never speak
But left the issue to the Father (see John 9:11)
And though he praised the humble and the meek
The soldiers too held in His heart a shrine
“Behold Thou shall not just stand idly by
At your own people’s wanton slaughtering,
But Thou shall murderous foes and fiends defy!!,”-
Thus spoke the Father and His edicts ring!
The great Aquinas likewise did proclaim,-
Provided that a war be fair and just-
The soldier - by inflicting wound and pain
Is but the tool of God,- and wound he must!.
Obedient to Providence on high,
Though he be forced to go in for the kill
He exercises charity thereby
And does the will of God thereby fulfill.
And furthermore the great St. Thomas says
About the issue,- that our young ignore;
Totalitarian regimes have monstrous ways
That would enslave our land and beauteous shore
Lo! serfdom might be sweet when juxtaposed
To so much evil lurking round the bend,
Dark, unforeseeable the cost
In human lives if soldiers don’t defend.
Sweet freedom will be gone - and poetry,
And the expression of keen minds and souls,
And Peace will be far worse than slavery.
Beneath the lash of grim Al Qaeda ghouls
Bless soldiers, - they are heaven’s instrument,
Though they may exercise arms’ force and kill,
But likewise by divine command defend,
Their own and their vocation thus fulfill.
Let mothers comfort then their sons that write,-
Tell them they are the instruments of Love;
That voice the wrath of God, while they defend
Their people with the blessing from above.
Pray for the soldiers,- pray for him or her,
While on their mission of God’s charity
And wrath,- to patiently their yoke to bear
And hardships, - fighting for the brave and free.
Elizabeth Dandy
Feb.07/03
This is inspired by studies of St. Thomas Aquinas, (catholic Theologian and an excerpt of an Essay by Prof.Darrell Cole Prof.of religion who points out that St. Thomas treats the issue of a just war not only in terms of justice, but in the context of his treatment of the Love of God.
Aquinas teaches that fighting a just war is a highly meritorious act. In a just war the soldier is as much an agant of God's love as he is of God's wrath. It is thus a God-like act. becomes the deepest form of charity. If Christians had soldiered, the horrors of WWII might not have happened. They just failed to act godly.
