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Tools of God
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 and invigorate
The clots so the earth again may breathe.
Apologize not for the bruising steel
That makes the land conditioned and prepared,
Be patient, confident, and 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)
Yet though he praised the humble and the meek
Praised those that laid their life upon the line.
“Behold Thou shall not just stand idly by
At helpless people’s wanton slaughtering,
But Thou shall murderous foes and fiends defy!,”-
Thus spoke the Father and His edicts ring! *
And soldiers crowded round St. Baptist John,
He loved them and esteemed their mission high,
Exception to their warring he took none,
But said: “Be ye contented with your pay”! **
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 youth ignores
Totalitarian regimes have monstrous ways
To devastate the brightest lands and shores..
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.
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.
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.
*Leviticus
**Luke 3/14
