Week of November 8

Double, double toil and trouble
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.1

Bad things happen to good people.  Why does God permit devastation?

Destruction has been a factor in the evolution of our home on this island earth since the beginning.  The earth’s molten core is a reality. The collision of tectonic plates gives rise to volcanoes and earth quakes.  Oceanic currents result in tropical storms and hurricanes.  Temperature and air pressure differences give us tornadoes, rains and subsequent flooding. These events sustain earthly growth and development and contribute to life itself. 

Since we evolved about one million years ago we have compounded natural disasters with war and all of its accompanying devastation.  Wars are a human process, a result of the desire to convert others to the “true” belief system and to gain wealth, power and control. 

More recently, the excessive use of fossil fuels and impoverishing the soil with chemical fertilizers has led to the danger of global warming.   

At a more personal level, we have seen our brothers being falsely persecuted, arrested and prosecuted as criminals.  In the late 1940’s and early 1950’s Senator Joseph McCarthy ruined careers of many innocent people.  Some innocent people were even imprisoned as communists. 

Today we are experiencing the aftermath of greed by unregulated big business.   This has led to the loss of homes, loss of jobs and bankruptcy for many who do not deserve it.  Yes, bad things happen to good people.

False prophets throughout the ages have used natural and man made disasters to predict the end of the world.  In Luke’s gospel we read that Jesus warns us that disaster and calamity will persist, but that the end will not immediately follow.  Jesus tells us not to be fooled by the false prophets. Before the end time, we will face many more private disasters.  Disasters, both global and personal, are not signs that God has abandoned us and the world.   These events offer us opportunities to bear witness to our God.  Indeed Jesus tells us “Do not be afraid but remain steadfast.”  God does not forget his faithful. 

In all we do we must bear witness to our God.  We have a responsibility to support our brothers and sisters, not punish them because they believe differently than we do.  It is imperative that we work toward maintaining a world that supports life by being moderate in the use of our natural resources.  We can do little about natural disasters like volcanoes, earthquakes, tornadoes or hurricanes.  Corporately and personally there is an obligation to support and assist those who survive natural disasters.  In our own community we need to reach out to our less fortunate neighbors.  It is our moral obligation to work towards a war free world and oppose any government actions that work against peace and perpetuate world wide famine and disease.  

Remember that as we love others, God will love and preserve us.

1. William Shakespeare, from Macbeth.