The Holodomor reminds us of truth

Those who think deeply about the meaning of the commemoration of the Holodomor by necessity come back to the Gospel of Matthew where he says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.” Father Gregory Zubacz of the Ukrainian Catholic Mission Church in Fresno, California, said last year (2017): “Our hunger and thirst for the truth is why we have come together today, to demonstrate that the truth can never remain hidden, and to tell our story to the world. And by gathering here and doing so, we are plowing a field of justice in the world so that the seeds of true peace may grow for future generations to be nourished with. Where once was sown a bitter harvest may we now sow the seeds of hope so that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness may be satisfied.” The 1932-33 genocidal famine should not be a something to merely observe each year because “that’s what we do” but our observance is of the genocide is an opportunity to know and understand our humanity in light of our pursuit of truth and faithfulness to the Lord of Life. Only in light of a relationship with Christ does our desire for peace come true and lasting.