THE TRANSFIGURATION AND THE BOMBINGS OF HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI

On August 6, 1945, seventy years ago today, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.

Today as well, we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration. “This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased,” said God that day. “Listen to him.”

Three days later, on August 9, 1945, we dropped another atomic bomb, this time on Nagasaki. Between the two, 129,000 men, women and children were incinerated.

On those days, God must have hid His face, shuddered, keened.