We Have The Power!

We scoff when we read that the man in today’s gospel (John 9:1-41) must be suffering blindness as God’s punishment for his own sinfulness or that of his parents. We know better than that! Jesus’ purpose flies in the face of that. His Good News of God’s Kingdom is that God is an all loving Father who is vitally concerned for us, seeks to guide us but allows us to follow our conscience. God is not interested in zapping us for our sins or those of our parents.

Nevertheless we ask similar questions today. Why do bad things happen to innocent people? Why were thousands killed recently in the big earthquake in Turkey and Syria? Why are some babies born with birth defects?  Why does cancer strike some and not others? They are age-old questions without easy answers but Jesus puts to bed the idea of God inflicting these things. (John 9:3)

Indeed if we had such a God, who micro-managed our lives, it would be at the expense of our free-will, our freedom of conscience and action. Instead God is vitally concerned in our lives and has given us collectively and individually the tools to address anything life throws at us.

So what tools have we been given? How might the works of God be revealed in misfortunes? Before we blame God, what has His teaching been? Oh yeah, Jesus’ consistent message is about compassion, about openness to God’s Word and truly listening. We deal with illnesses and natural disasters pro-actively, medically and scientifically, we work tirelessly for peace, we listen to our brothers and sisters without prejudice, we reach out selflessly to those in need and we humbly place ourselves in God’s hands.  And we resist any temptation to think we have answers without God. `

Deacon Mark Kelly