Jan
25
2006
0
By Anonymous (not verified)
The problem of evil and sin continues to trouble anyone who is conscientious. Why does God allow evil? Why doesn't God punish it quickly?
St. Faustina asked this question on one occasion:
"When once I asked the Lord Jesus how He could tolerate so many sins and crimes and not punish them, the Lord answered me, I have eternity for punishing [these], and so I am prolonging the time of mercy for the sake of [sinners]. But woe to them if they do not recognize this time of My visitation. My daughter, secretary of My mercy, your duty is not only to write about and proclaim My mercy, but also to beg for this grace for them, so that they too may glorify My mercy" (Diary, 1160).
From our perspective, evil is rampant. If one form of evil is recognized and suppressed, another shows up, sometimes even worse than the former. Some people claim to be outright enemies of God. Some claim He does not exist and thus do not worry if they might displease Him. Some claim to be God's friends, but do great evils.
God is not worried about His enemies. Being infinitely powerful, He can handle them without any problem. Yet, given that we have free will, we can go from being an enemy of God to a friend of God, but this requires grace from God. The grace Jesus mentioned in this passage is that sinners would recognize His time of visitation. If they do, they can repent, ask His mercy and glorify Him. As He asked St. Faustina to pray that they would receive this grace, so we are also asked to pray for sinners. And today's feast day of the Conversion of St. Paul reminds us of our own need for daily conversion.
St. Faustina asked this question on one occasion:
"When once I asked the Lord Jesus how He could tolerate so many sins and crimes and not punish them, the Lord answered me, I have eternity for punishing [these], and so I am prolonging the time of mercy for the sake of [sinners]. But woe to them if they do not recognize this time of My visitation. My daughter, secretary of My mercy, your duty is not only to write about and proclaim My mercy, but also to beg for this grace for them, so that they too may glorify My mercy" (Diary, 1160).
From our perspective, evil is rampant. If one form of evil is recognized and suppressed, another shows up, sometimes even worse than the former. Some people claim to be outright enemies of God. Some claim He does not exist and thus do not worry if they might displease Him. Some claim to be God's friends, but do great evils.
God is not worried about His enemies. Being infinitely powerful, He can handle them without any problem. Yet, given that we have free will, we can go from being an enemy of God to a friend of God, but this requires grace from God. The grace Jesus mentioned in this passage is that sinners would recognize His time of visitation. If they do, they can repent, ask His mercy and glorify Him. As He asked St. Faustina to pray that they would receive this grace, so we are also asked to pray for sinners. And today's feast day of the Conversion of St. Paul reminds us of our own need for daily conversion.
