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the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the LORD shines,
and over you appears his glory.
See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the LORD shines,
and over you appears his glory.
The story of
Herod and the slaughter of the Innocents is too familiar today. We have heard much about beheadings, mass killing, ISIS and WMD (weapons of mass destruction). Saint Matthew's story
reminds us that these unthinkable acts are “nothing new under the
sun.” The Nazis may have perfected the techniques of genocide but they didn’t invent them.
Saint Matthew assures us, God’s grace is superabundant. As dreadful as is the killing of
innocent children, the gift of Jesus is incomparably greater. We celebrate their victory as martyrs each year on December 28. It is a victory they have not earned or deserved but the Lord has given it to them.
To unbelievers, this
is a lot to swallow. Can the birth of Jesus atone for the death of the innocents? Can a single man undo the horror of so many deaths?
In his Letter to
the Romans, Saint Paul says,
“… the gift is not like the transgression. For if by that one person’s transgression the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one person Jesus Christ overflow for the many. And the gift is not like the result of the one person’s sinning. For after one sin there was the judgment that brought condemnation; but the gift, after many transgressions, brought acquittal.
For if, by the transgression of one person, death came to reign through that one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of justification come to reign in life through the one person Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, just as through one transgression condemnation came upon all, so through one righteous act acquittal and life came to all.” (Romans 5:15-18)
The so-called Problem
of Evil seems to pose an insurmountable obstacle to belief in God’s goodness
but with his absolute conviction in the efficacy of the Cross, Saint Paul blows
it away. Not only does Jesus undo the murder of the Innocents, he atones for every wicked deed from the fall of Adam to the Last Judgment.
We cannot imagine the enormity of this victory, nor how God rights every wrong through Jesus’
death and resurrection but we can believe that he does. If I cannot
understand how sunlight turns carbon into trees, or how the brain functions, I certainly
can’t expect to comprehend the light that shines in darkness.
Great writers and philosopher have made much of this question, called theodicy. If God is all-good, all-knowing, and all-powerful why do the innocent suffer?
The Bible -- especially the Book of Job -- replies, "Who is asking? Do you have standing in my court?"
In the end this problem of evil is simply an excuse for refusing the call of the gospel. When Jesus demands, “Turn away from sin and believe in the good news” people who have never suffered much horror say, “But what about the death of innocent children?” They suppose that victims cannot be comforted or healed, even by the grace of God. In effect, they steal someone else's suffering and use it as a shield to block the Light.
I respect the scandal the victim of rape or pedophilia has suffered, and I would not blame that person for doubting God's justice or mercy, but I have not suffered those horrors. I hear dreadful stories of war, cruelty, abandonment and fear as a VA chaplain, but they are not my stories.
Were I to use another's victimization to justify my own disbelief, I would suppose that victim will never know mercy, joy or peace. I might pity her but it is without compassion for I never actually cared about her. I only used her story to excuse my cowardice.
Meanwhile, that person might very well find relief and joy in God's presence while I continue to hide behind a wall that has been removed.
The question of theodicy arose after philosophers dismissed the doctrine of the Trinity. They refused to believe that God could suffer as a man or that a man might be raised up and revealed as God.
Today's feast invites us to set aside every hesitation and doubt. We should rejoice at the sight of the woman and child, lie prostrate with the magi before the newborn King of the Jews and do him homage. This child is only the first of the wonderful works we shall behold "with our own eyes."
(1 John 1 and Job 19:26)
The Bible -- especially the Book of Job -- replies, "Who is asking? Do you have standing in my court?"
In the end this problem of evil is simply an excuse for refusing the call of the gospel. When Jesus demands, “Turn away from sin and believe in the good news” people who have never suffered much horror say, “But what about the death of innocent children?” They suppose that victims cannot be comforted or healed, even by the grace of God. In effect, they steal someone else's suffering and use it as a shield to block the Light.
I respect the scandal the victim of rape or pedophilia has suffered, and I would not blame that person for doubting God's justice or mercy, but I have not suffered those horrors. I hear dreadful stories of war, cruelty, abandonment and fear as a VA chaplain, but they are not my stories.
Were I to use another's victimization to justify my own disbelief, I would suppose that victim will never know mercy, joy or peace. I might pity her but it is without compassion for I never actually cared about her. I only used her story to excuse my cowardice.
Meanwhile, that person might very well find relief and joy in God's presence while I continue to hide behind a wall that has been removed.
The question of theodicy arose after philosophers dismissed the doctrine of the Trinity. They refused to believe that God could suffer as a man or that a man might be raised up and revealed as God.
Today's feast invites us to set aside every hesitation and doubt. We should rejoice at the sight of the woman and child, lie prostrate with the magi before the newborn King of the Jews and do him homage. This child is only the first of the wonderful works we shall behold "with our own eyes."
(1 John 1 and Job 19:26)
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.