This question is by far the most asked and also the most difficult to answer. And so it seemed appropriate to inaugurate this blog with this most difficult of questions. I will begin the discussion by offering thoughts from two priests. Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, in his book Go to Heaven, notes that "God permits evil things for the reason of a greater good related to His love and the salvation of our souls." He goes on to say that "The evil of the world is inseparable from human freedom, and hence the cost of destroying the world's evil would be the destruction of human freedom. Certainly none of us want to pay that high a price, particularly since God would never permit evil unless He could draw some good from it." In his book, The Promise, Fr. Jonathan Morris quotes Peter Kreeft: "The only reason serious enough to justify God's continued tolerance of suffering is our need for it," In explaining, Fr. Morris notes that "our need for it" means what will lead us to our absolute fulfilment as human beings, which is a much greater good. An example of this would be the story of Joseph, son of Jacob, sold into slavery by his brothers in Genesis 38-50. In Genesis 50:19-20 after Joseph reveals himself to his brothers says"Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive."
What sayest thou?
I would to the above that it is important to realize that humanity does not suffer alone. In Christ, God too bears our suffering "in the flesh".
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