Sunday, August 31, 2014
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Fr. Joseph Eddy, O. de M.
The friars in our house recently saw the movie God is not dead. This is the story of a young college freshmen who takes an introductory philosophy course taught by a self-proclaimed atheist, Mr. Radisson. This professor has gotten quite the reputation for his hostility toward Christianity. He begins each semester by asking his class to hand in a signed sheet of paper with the statement God is dead.
We Catholics are beginning to realize the need to support and strengthen the traditional family unit. Click photo to learn about the Family Fun Day held at our Mercedarian parish in LeRoy, NY, and why we held it.
These famous words were first written by philosopher Fredrick Nietzsche in 1883. If a student dares to not complete the assignment as requested he or she is in immediate threat of failure and must defend his or her position before the whole class.
Defending faith with reason
One brave young man, Josh, refuses to go against his conscience and deny God. The rest of the movie documents the ensuing battle between the first year freshmen and the highly educated atheist professor. Josh’s defense of the existence of God from reason has a profound effect on all those in his class and even at the University.
The movie has many themes to it, but a major one is the problem of evil. It becomes clear over time that the professor struggles not with God’s existence, but with the notion of God as just and loving. You see Mr. Radisson’s mother suffered and died when he was just a boy. Thus, the professor can never accept that God is all good.
This problem of evil or its related issue, the problem of suffering, afflicts and challenges each one of us in this life. In the first reading, this is the major concern for the Prophet Jeremiah whose whole life is characterized by suffering. In fact, Jeremiah is called the Suffering Servant. The prophet’s whole life is a martyrdom for the Truth. He is “the object of laughter” and mockery all the day. Jeremiah also suffers physical violence and is eventually carried off as a captive to Egypt never to be seen again.
Has God “duped” Jesus?
Jeremiah is a foreshadowing of the real Suffering Servant who will take upon Himself the guilt of not only Israel, but all of mankind. Has God “duped” Jesus? Certainly Peter thinks so in today’s Gospel! Jesus tells his disciples that He “must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly….” Peter quickly responds, “God forbid, Lord!”
We all would naturally have the response of Peter to the disturbing words of Christ. Nobody wants to see their loved one suffer. Yet, God’s ways are not our ways. Jesus, however, is not looking for suffering. He prays in the garden, “Lord if this cup might pass by me, but your will be done.” It is indeed the Father’s allowed will that Jesus suffer and die taking upon Himself the sins of us all. This is an important distinction. God’s will can be allowed or ordained. Allowed means that He lets it happen so that good may come of it. Ordained is something that God specifically desires and it is always good.
God cannot create evil. It comes from sin or our free choice to do the unloving thing. When we sin in one way or another we choose to follow the Father of Lies or the devil. These choices have consequences. The Lord can allow the actions to play out with all their ugliness, suffering, and pain.
Bringing good from evil
Yet the story does not have to end here. If we accept sufferings that come from our state in life, human weakness and sin, God can bring great good from them. To realize this we only need to look at the cross. The crucifixion and death of our Lord was a clearly evil act, but the Father brought enormous good from it. The cross has been turned from a sign of torture and shame into a symbol of life and hope.
The problem of evil or of suffering is something that we all must face. If we don’t face it we can become like Professor Radisson, a person angry at God and all of creation. However, if we confront the issue with faith and courage we can see that evil is the result of a misuse of free will. Sin ultimately causes evil and suffering. But, by His cross and resurrection Jesus has turned all things upside down. “All things work together for those called according to his purpose… (Rom. 2:28).” Even evil and suffering can become a means of salvation for us.
God is very much alive. He is compassionate, loving, and forgiving. No suffering and evil can disrupt the good plans that God has for us. So let us go on without fear and with great faith
so as to receive the promises He has given to us!