Saturday After Ash Wednesday: Matthew 4 (1-11)

Today, Duffy, I am thinking about N.T. Wright's Lenten commentary on Matthew 4:1-11 in light of the current tense stand-off between President Trump and Supreme Leader Khamenei. As Wright puts it, "We, too, are part of the ongoing battle for heaven's rule to be established on earth. Every successful fight against temptation is one more step on the road to the ultimate victory." Yes, but what should a powerful Judeo-Christian army of God do in this specific case? Should we lead by idealist pacifist Neptunian example, or with realist military Saturnian force? With a balanced conjunction of both? 

Should we resist the temptation to use American and Israeli military force against an evil anti-American and anti-Zionist regime, or should we resist the temptation to fear pushback from our coddled masses? Maybe we need to resist both temptations and find a third way forward?

"Lord Jesus, as you saw through the temptations and refused them, give us wisdom to recognize the tempter's voice, and strength to resist."

Amen.

Cf. Trump 'considering' limited Iran strikes | Fox News Video.

Cf. Gottheimer, Lawler oppose resolution limiting US military options against Iran.

Cf. We Need Catholic Just War Theory Now More Than Ever.

Cf. Before striking Iran, Trump should answer these six questions.

Note: I am inclined to say that Holy War is most accurately framed as a subset of just war theory, not a violation of it. But I suppose to be fair to Barack Obama we should call what I am describing "Holy Just War Theory." Or does my faith in Jesus, and in the justice of Father Time, mean I am now so fully in the vegan pacifist camp, that I believe the only warfighting we should call holy is that which is done inwardly by the pacifist vegan conscientious objector, and that all other warfighting defiles the combatant, even when it is obviously just (as I think armed intervention against Iran likely would be, if not by the US, then by a functional UN Security Council)? Like chaste sex, is just war not a sin, but nevertheless a defilement that limits access to the Holy Place? 

I am wondering, Duffy, if it is time for me (since the Neptune-Saturn conjunction of 20 February 2026) to fully renounce my complicity in the wars of this world and to commit myself entirely to diplomacy and to holiness. This could be a step deeper into the charism of a vegan monastic order. It could also be a regression into delusional escapism. Then again, it could be a temporary mindset that is appropriate to our penitential retreat. Let's see if our journey through the Gospel of Matthew brings me to clarity on this point. 

You are in my prayers as you shoulder your own portion of the cross through this Lenten day 4 of 46. Do we each carry our own cross, or do we all shoulder Christ's together? 

P.S. We're passing through a major Neptune-Saturn conjunction at the 0 point of Aries. It's been thousands of years since the last one like this. I am sure it is little discussed in mainstream news circles today, but it has massive significance in tropical western astrological circles. According to Gemini, "the consensus is that the Saturn-Neptune conjunction in Aries acts as a rebirth process where humanity is asked to build a new, more compassionate, and socially responsible structure (Saturn) for our highest collective visions (Neptune) in a new era of personal and political action (Aries)."