Why Does God Not Stop The Suffering?

Tonight’s readings speak a lot about stormy seas. They make me think about Hurricanes Katrina and Rita that brought so much destruction and death to Louisiana and Texas last year.

Why did the God of Job, as described in our first reading, “not shut and fasten the doors of the sea” that swept over the gulf coast?

Where was the God of today’s responsorial psalm who “hushed the storm to a gentle breeze?” when those hurricanes crashed ashore?

Was Jesus was still asleep in his boat when the people of Texas and Louisiana pleaded, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Why didn’t he rebuke the wind and tell the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” so that the wind ceased and there was calm instead of catastrophe?

These are not easy questions to answer. But, I do think it is fair to say that Jesus joined his heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit in weeping over the devastations caused by these disasters. We know that He did not cause them, but we also know that He did not stop them! Why did He not stop them?

I kinda got stuck right at this point in my homily preparation. I did not have a good answer to this last question. So, how did I get unstuck? I wrote my kids and asked for their advice.

My message to them began like this: “This Saturday, I give another homily. I was excited about my last one since I thought it was pretty good. Well, after I gave it, I felt differently. I think it likely went over very poorly. It was too complex. It tried to say too much. I think I may have made the simple complex; whereas, my objective is to make the complex simple. I am at somewhat of a low point. I am frustrated, I am disheartened. I am confused. BUT, I have another homily to give this next Saturday!”

As you can see, I was in the midst of my own personal storm.

In my email to the kids I explained what the readings were about and then posed this question: “If God can do all these great things, why does he often choose not to?”

I continued, “We pray for his intervention and thank him when things miraculously turn out OK. But, what about when things do not turn out OK? What do we tell those people?”

I continued, “You kids are smart kids. You have experienced a significant part of life. I know the question I ask is not answerable. What I am looking for is WHAT could be said from the altar that would be of help to people who wonder WHY? What can I say that will help God's people? How do I tell the person in the pew that although God has the power to calm these great storms, he chose not to use that power to keep their loved one safe?”

I have so been struggling with this homily. I do truly want to help God's people, and I just do not know what to tell them.

I ended my note with this request:

“Please let me know what you would tell people about a God who can stop a storm in its tracks, but who would choose not to keep their loved one from harm?”

Here are the responses I got back, and I quote, “Some people dismiss this issue as relates to their situation, by concluding that, ‘God was not in this tragedy; it was a mistake.’ Whereas, the truth is that God is sovereign, and He is in control of everything. He either wills things for Himself or He allows things to happen due to the gift of free will.”

The response continued with this analogy:

“I love to hike! I do! However, many times (usually half way through the hike) I begin cursing myself for thinking I like to hike! I’m panting like a dog, bugs are eating me alive, I have an elevation headache the size of Asia, and my heels are burning from blisters. To top it all off, I honestly do not know where I’m going half the time because I’m consumed by so many trees I cannot see fifty feet in front of me! I rely only on my compass and faith that there is an end to this madness! Then, amidst the trees of confusion, disorientation, doubt, and regret and the steep inclines and switchbacks of pain, agony, and despair I FINALLY remember what this was all for. Reaching the summit, my senses become literally overwhelmed with beauty!!!”

“Dad, life is like a 14er! We are sometimes confronted with tragedy; so much so that we oftentimes can’t even determine what to do or where to go with it. We MUST rely on our compass -- who is God. We must trust in his benevolence!! He does not cause tragedy, for God is LOVE!!! He simply waits for us to trust Him and move forward with Him so that He may redeem that evil for the good! There is beauty at the end of suffering if only we continue our journey with God as our faithful guide!”

The response continues, “Why is there suffering? Because we are a fallen humanity! Did God intend there to be suffering? No! Why then does it exist? Because of human free will! Love is much more beautiful when it is freely given, but that requires the willful alternative -- to do evil!! Why does God miraculously remove tragedy in some circumstances rather than others? Because God is merciful! He has no obligation to prevent anything, but he does so due to his graciousness.”

And, the response ended with this summation; “Whether God miraculously prevents a tragedy or allows it to happen, we can be assured of two things: 1) God does not give us anything we cannot handle, and 2) God works out ALL things (even tragedies) for the ultimate good for those who love Him!”

WOW!! What a marvelous response. And, this somewhat theological response was supplemented by a different child with this advice:

Dad, I don't think there's an answer to why God sometimes chooses to intervene and other times He doesn’t. I understand your dilemma in wanting to provide answers and some peace to people suffering. How do we explain what appear to be inconsistencies or what appears to place more value on certain lives than others? I don't think there are adequate answers. Lots of times when people try to provide answers, they minimize and/or alienate the people going through the pain of a personal tragedy. The reality is that it doesn't make sense and there isn't a way to put rhyme or reason to it from our current perspective.

Her advice continued, “As I'm writing this, I'm thinking you could explain what it's not: that it's not about God loving people less or placing less value on them; that it's not about God just missing it and or randomly deciding to intervene.”

“That may be as close as you can get to an answer (by ruling out some of the things it's not), but, explaining why isn't possible I don't think; nor would it be adequate. It's one of those unknowns that will always need to be unknown. Maybe it's that way because everyone has to survive these tragedies in their own way, with their own beliefs within their own spirituality. If there were only one answer, it might not be enough to help people's different reactions to tragedy and stages of loss that people go through.”

She continued, “Maybe if you can find a way to express these feelings of frustration! Confusion! Helplessness! and pressure to explain the unexplainable it may help those people struggling with these very things themselves by normalizing these feelings.”

And she ended by saying, “I think success is that you brought up a difficult subject without answers and were willing to talk about it. Another thought: in expressing your own confusion, you had all of us thinking of God and faith and trying to come up with our own answers; isn't that the best possible teaching? Dad, thanks for asking for our opinion and thanks for making me think a little more deeply today!”

Well, back to my thoughts: The bottom line is that God’s choice of when and where to act is a mystery. Our challenge is to believe in the presence of God’s kingdom despite a world filled with storms. In all the miracles Jesus performed, he never meant to imply that he would regularly use miracles to protect his people and provide for their welfare. Quite the opposite, Jesus often predicted that his disciples could expect trouble, persecution, and hardship.

Our life is a journey on which we encounter both storms and calm seas; but, with trust in God we steadily and safely travel toward our final and true destination – the peace and security of everlasting life. This gospel challenges us to move beyond seeing Jesus as the miracle worker who is there when we need him in this world to seeing Him as the beckoning light, the compass, who will bring us to our own beautiful summit -- eternal life with Him in the world to come.

And a final piece of practical wisdom came from another son. He said, “Dad, you once told me in a bad time of mine how sometimes you need to bear the cross as Jesus did for his people. Dad, you are a Deacon. Maybe the words "I'm Sorry" from you would be your way to bear the cross for those in suffering.”

Well, for all of you who are suffering, I say “I am sorry!”