Grace and evil

THIS truth of our faith is very important to keep in mind

always and to act according to it whenever some form of evil comes our

way. When difficulties, temptations and sin itself would fall on us,

let’s never forget that that such situation is a wonderful occasion to

go to God who will always come to our rescue.

            This truth is based on what Christ himself said. Even if

the immediate context of these words of his is about the impending end

of the world, they can also be applied to any situation where we can

find ourselves in some predicament. Let us analyze once again these

words (cfr. Lk 21,9-19) to discern some helpful implications from

them.

            “When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not frightened.

These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

We can also interpret these words as Christ reassuring us not to worry

at all when difficulties, temptations and sin get in our way.

            “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against

kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in

various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. But

before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand

you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought

before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.”

            With these words, we should be ready to face all kinds of

difficulties and temptations and other forms of evil to come to us.

But for all this, Christ makes this reassuring message: “AND SO YOU

WILL BEAR TESTIMONY TO ME.” In other words, we have to use the evils

that come our way as an occasion to bear witness to Christ.

            And Christ himself reassures us that he will come to our

rescue. He said, “Make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you

will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none

of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict…Stand firm,

and you will win life.”

            No wonder, St. Paul said, “Where sin abounded, grace

abounded much more.” (Rom 5,20) And so his reaction to all kinds of

evil and human weakness hounding him can be described in these words

of his:

            “Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my

weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I

am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with

persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am

weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor 12,9-10)

            If we have this attitude of St. Paul, we can also expect

to reflect the calming effects St. Paul felt when assailed by all

sorts of predicaments. He described it this way: “We are hard-pressed

on every side, yet not crushed. We are perplexed, but not in despair,

persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed…” (2 Cor

4,8-10)

            Indeed, if we manage to correspond to God’s presence,

grace and designs for us especially in our difficulties, we may not be

exempted from suffering but we would be able to bear everything, and

somehow would still be happy since we know that everything has

meaning, has a purpose, and it’s always for our own good.

            It is important that we always be guided by our faith and

love for God who takes care of everything. As St. Paul would put it,

“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love

him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Rom 8,28)

            We should not worry at all. What we have to do is to go

back to God as fast as we can. He will always welcome us back. We

should just go home to him!