With God, everything works for the good

ONE truth of our faith should never fade from our mind: God is always in control. No matter how confused the world becomes, no matter how badly we misuse our freedom, God remains the Lord of history. He allows evil because he respects the freedom he himself has given us. We can choose good—or we can choose evil. But even when evil seems to prevail, God knows how to draw a greater good from it. 

 This is a truth we need to remember especially when life becomes difficult. There will always be moments of suffering, failure, injustice and loss. There will be times when nothing seems to make sense. It is precisely then that our faith is put to the test. 

 St. Paul offers one of the most reassuring promises in Scripture: "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." (Rom. 8:28) 

 That is the secret—a living faith and a steadfast love for God. This promise may seem incredible from a purely human perspective, yet it has never failed. God's providence never ceases to work, even when we cannot immediately see it. 

 The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains this mystery with remarkable clarity. It teaches that, in his almighty providence, God can bring good even from the consequences of evil, including moral evil brought about by human beings. 

 It points to the story of Joseph, who was betrayed and sold into slavery by his own brothers. Years later, Joseph could tell them: "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good." (Gen. 50:20) What looked like a family tragedy became the means of saving many lives. 

 The greatest example, however, is the Passion of Christ. The rejection and crucifixion of the Son of God remain the gravest moral evil in history. Yet from that supreme act of hatred came the greatest good imaginable—our redemption. Through Christ's death and resurrection, humanity was offered salvation. As the Catechism reminds us, evil never becomes good. But God, in his infinite wisdom and power, can bring a greater good out of it. 

 This should fill us with hope without making us complacent.God is in control, but that does not mean we are spared the consequences of sin, whether our own or that of others. Life will continue to present joys and sorrows, victories and defeats. As the Book of Ecclesiastes reminds us, there is "a time to be born and a time to die... a time to weep and a time to laugh... a time to mourn and a time to dance." Such is the rhythm of life in a fallen world. 

 Instead of complaining endlessly, we should learn to face these changing seasons with serenity and trust. God never abandons us. He never causes moral evil, but he permits it because he respects human freedom a  nd because his providence is always capable of bringing about something greater. 

 This is why St. Paul could confidently declare: "Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more." (Rom. 5:20) It is also the wisdom behind the familiar saying that God writes straight with crooked lines. Our mistakes, and even the malice of others, never have the final word. 

 None of this excuses us from doing our part. We should use every legitimate human means to solve our problems. We need common sense, sound judgment, science, technology and the best of human culture. We should work hard, make responsible decisions and seek justice with determination. 

 But through it all, we should never leave God out of the picture. Human effort achieves its fullest fruit only when it is united with trust in God's providence. In the end, that is our deepest source of confidence: whatever happens, God always has the last word.

The body as temple of the Spirit

BECAUSE of our wounded human condition, there is always some tension—and at times even conflict—between our body and our spiritual soul. This is one of the deepest struggles we face every day. While our soul is meant to be animated by no less than the Holy Spirit, our body is often pulled by desires that can lead us away from God. 

 St. Paul spoke candidly about this interior battle. "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." (Rom. 7:15) Anyone who sincerely tries to live a good Christian life can identify with these words. We know what is right, yet we often fail to do it. We desire to love God, yet we allow lesser things to distract us. 

 The Apostle explained this further in his Letter to the Galatians: "For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh... so that you do not do the things you want to do." (Gal. 5:17) This conflict is part of our earthly condition. It is real, but it is not meant to defeat us. 

 That is why we should always be aware of this spiritual reality. Above all, we need God's grace. Left to ourselves, we can easily be overcome by our weaknesses. But with God's help, we can gradually restore the proper harmony between body and soul. The goal is not to despise the body or allow bodily desires to dominate our life. It is body and soul together—not body versus soul. 

 To achieve this, we have to deepen and strengthen our faith. Our spiritual soul should increasingly share in God's own life, wisdom and power. As our union with God grows, our body should willingly follow the direction of a soul alive with the Holy Spirit. In this way, our body truly becomes what St. Paul calls the temple of the Holy Spirit. 

 This calls for a holistic stewardship of ourselves. We have to care for both our spiritual and bodily life. That means fleeing from sexual immorality, avoiding gluttony, practicing moderation in food, drink and rest, and cultivating self-control in all things. Discipline is not an end in itself. It frees us to love more generously and serve more faithfully. 

 We should also strive for purity in thought, word and deed. Purity is often misunderstood as simply saying "no" to sinful pleasures. Its deeper meaning is saying "yes" to authentic love. It is fundamentally about loving God above all and loving others with a clean heart. True love always requires sacrifice and self-denial, but these become meaningful because they are expressions of love rather than mere restraint. 

 Our body should increasingly be animated by the Spirit of Christ—a spirit of love, self-giving and generous sacrifice. Christ not only taught love; he lived it by giving himself completely, even to death on the Cross. That same spirit should be reflected in our words, actions and relationships. Indeed, this is how our body reaches its highest dignity and best condition. 

 When our body is guided by the Spirit, it naturally seeks Christ and reaches out to others in genuine charity. We should therefore be vigilant against being driven by the spirit of the flesh, the spirit of the world, or even the evil spirit. These may promise pleasure or success, but they ultimately rob us of true freedom and peace. 

 To cultivate this harmony between body and soul, we need to spend time each day with God. We should meditate on Sacred Scripture, contemplate the life of Christ, and learn from the witness of the saints, especially Our Lady. In this way, even our emotions, desires and passions—the vital link between soul and body—can gradually be purified and directed toward what is good. The result is a deep and lasting attachment to God that no temptation, suffering or worldly attraction can destroy. 

 Finally, let us constantly invoke the Holy Spirit, our Sanctifier. As the Catechism teaches, his gifts make us docile to the workings of grace, while his fruits reveal the transforming effects of that grace in our lives. By allowing the Holy Spirit to guide both soul and body, we can steadily grow into the harmony God intended from the beginning.

Why speak in parables, Lord?

WHEN the disciples asked Christ why he spoke in parables, his answer was simple and direct: "Because they look but do not see, and they hear but do not listen or understand." (Mt. 13:13) Later, he explained the deeper reason. They did not want to be converted. 

 That answer should make us examine ourselves. Christ's parables are much more than memorable stories. They reveal the mysteries of the Kingdom of God to those who approach him with faith and humility. 

 At the same time, they test the disposition of every listener. Those who sincerely seek God receive light. Those who close themselves to him remain confused. The problem is not with the message but with the heart that refuses to receive it. 

 The same principle applies to all the truths of our faith. Faith has to come first. Reason is indispensable, but it has to be enlightened by faith. Human intelligence, no matter how brilliant, has its limits. Left on its own, it can only grasp what is visible and measurable. God's truth goes beyond what our natural powers can discover. It is first a gift to be received before it can be fully understood. 

 That’s why humility is indispensable. God generously offers us the gift of faith. But if we are full of pride, self-sufficiency, or the illusion that we already know enough, there is hardly any room for that gift to enter. A humble soul is always willing to listen. It allows God to speak, even when his message challenges personal opinions, worldly standards, or cherished preferences. 

 We should also be wary of relying only on our senses, feelings, or purely human reasoning. Valuable as they are, they perceive only the external side of reality. By themselves, they cannot penetrate the spiritual and supernatural dimension that gives ultimate meaning to everything. 

 In fact, our emotions and opinions can easily dominate us. They often judge according to appearances, convenience, or immediate satisfaction. Without faith, we become blind to God's action in our daily life. We may mistake temporary success for lasting happiness or see suffering as something completely meaningless. 

 That is why our senses, emotions, and reasoning have to be educated by faith. They need to be purified and elevated through prayer, the sacraments, meditation on God's word, and constant conversion. Faith does not suppress our human faculties. It perfects them. 

 Once faith enlightens us, everything begins to look different. We start seeing reality from God's perspective. Faith is a participation in God's own knowledge. It allows us to glimpse his loving providence behind every event of our life. 

 Even suffering changes its meaning. Setbacks, failures, sickness, disappointments, and injustices need not lead us to despair. God can draw good from every situation. Nothing escapes his wise and merciful providence. As St. Paul reminds us, "all things work together for good for those who love God." (Rom. 8:28) 

 Faith also broadens our horizon. It teaches us to accept mysteries we cannot fully explain. It keeps hope alive amid uncertainty. It enables us to practice charity even toward those who misunderstand or hurt us. Instead of becoming bitter, we become more generous. 

 Above all, faith gives us lasting peace and joy. These do not depend on favorable circumstances but on the certainty that God is always with us, guiding everything toward our eternal good. With faith, we discover beauty where others see only ugliness, hope where others see only despair, and purpose where others see only meaninglessness. 

 That is why Christ continues to speak in parables. They are not riddles meant to confuse us but invitations to conversion. They call us to open our minds and hearts to God. Only then can we see reality as it truly is—with the eyes of faith.