July 30, 2026

I am currently reading Saint Augustine’s book, “The City of God”. In this, his defense of Christianity against claims that the sack of Rome happened because the Romans ignored the ancient gods, he talks about the ancient Roman Republic and the troubles they had. He wonders if, in those ancient times:

"The gods stayed in Rome simply to punish the Romans, rather than help them with their favours, by seducing them with hollow victories and exhausting them with terrible wars."

As I read this, I thought about the current state of the United States of America. They have had “quick hollow victories” in the initial stages of Iraq, Afghanistan, and now even in Iran, but quick hollow victories that are exhausting them in both men and material and have led them into terrible and prolonged wars.

What is needed in the USA is a genuine repentance, a genuine humility, and a genuine turning to God. That is the only solution to the terrible mess that they have gotten themselves in.