We're lucky, no, 'blessed' that God is with us
Why God allows bad things to happen lies in this sobering truth — we are not the Creator.
By Norm McGraw
We can “confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help,” as Paul tells the Hebrews. Accept the invitation of Christ that he gave Levi: “Follow me.” (Mark 2:13)
Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Hebrews 4:12-16
Mark 2:13-17
Before I begin this week’s reflection, I must comment on the horrible devastation from the wildfires that began last week in southern California. Our hearts go out to all those affected. What happened has resulted in a terrible loss of life and property. The stress and misery of those who have suffered has been overwhelming. Because of this tragedy, two questions burn in people’s minds: 1) How to emotionally deal with these terrible events, and 2) If there is an all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving God, why would He allow these horrible events to happen?
The latter question is answered in the book of Job, which I consider the most intriguing book of the Old Testament. In that book, Job’s faith is tested when all his possessions, as well as his health, are taken from him. His wife and his friends tell him to blame God. When he talks to the Almighty, he receives the answer to why he was suffering for no apparent reason. God responds: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” and later, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” and still later, “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”
The answer to the question of why God allows bad things to happen lies in this sobering truth — we are not the Creator. He created us. If we love and trust in Him, He will ultimately reward us more than we can imagine. In fact, the story of Job concludes with his being rewarded in such a manner.
The first question, how to deal with calamities, is revealed in the January 18th readings. The responsorial psalm joyfully exclaims, “Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life”. These words strengthen our faith in times of trouble. The Alleluia exhorts us “to bring glad tidings to the poor and to proclaim liberty to captives.”
The first reading, from the 4th chapter of St. Paul’s Epistle to the Hebews, emphasizes that God should be the centerpiece of our lives. In this passage, Paul tells the converts that “the word of God is living and effective.” Later he states, “we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God.”
The 2nd reading, from the 2nd chapter in the gospel of St. Mark, further expounds on the message. The backstory to this passage relates how Jesus performed miracles, forgave sins, and acquired followers. After he cured the paralytic and forgave his sins, the scribes present objected, accusing Jesus of blasphemy. But knowing their thoughts, he asked “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, “Arise, take up your bed and walk’?”
Against this backdrop of the growing ministry and charismatic popularity of Jesus, the passage begins with his meeting Levi, a tax collector, saying to him, “Follow me”, which he immediately does. Then, when Jesus sits at a table with other tax collectors who were considered sinners, once again the scribes objected. But he remarked, “I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” Aren’t we all sinners?
Readings from Scripture can help us deal with the human and financial loss in disasters like the recent wildfires in southern California and the terrible death and destruction in New Orleans by reminding us to connect our minds and hearts with the grace of God because “his words are Spirit and light. The decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple,” as Psalm 19 says. We can “confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help,” as Paul tells the Hebrews. Accept the invitation of Christ that he gave Levi: “Follow me.” (Mark 2:13)
We can live with the trauma of losing loved ones and possessions when we realize that we will never completely understand God’s plan because we’re not God.
Our salvation lies with our loving and trusting in our Creator because He always loves us.
An agnostic friend of mine once told me that he was jealous of those who believe. He felt they were lucky.
I guess we are. No. We are blessed.
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