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In
Search of the Spirit
A
monthly letter from the Glenmary Vocation Office
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November 2005
When Disaster Strikes, Where Is Our God?
By Father Steve Pawelk
This year it seems our world has experienced more natural disasters than normal. Given the Tsunami last December, then Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma and the recent earthquake in Pakistan and neighboring countries where close to 40,000 lives have been lost, a common question keeps surfacing: "Where is God in the midst of all these disasters?" "What is God trying to tell us?"
Some people point to Luke's Gospel which says: "There will be signs in the sun, the moon and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand" (22: 25-28).
This passage seems to point towards the end of time or the Second Coming. As Catholics we do believe in the Second Coming of Christ. Yet we need to remember what Jesus himself said about the end times: "But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (Mark 13:32). So if even Jesus could not know when the world will pass away and a new heaven and a new earth will begin, we need to be very cautious in interpreting natural disasters as some great cosmic sign.
I find myself considering two biblical passages, one from Matthew and one from Luke.
Matthew 28:20 offers these final words of Jesus, "And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." Therefore, in all these terrible events of nature where so much property and human life is lost, God is with us. Jesus will not and has not abandoned us. He is suffering with us in the midst of these great tragedies. We are not alone. This is the beginning of our hope.
Luke 13:4-5, however, offers this reminder: "Or those 18 people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them--do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!"
Jesus is reminding us that both the guilty and the innocent suffer in the natural disasters that beset us. This is just a part of the cycle of death and life on this planet. The questions--"Why us and not them?" or "Why them and not us?--are never answerable.
Yet disasters remind us that our life on this earth can be very short, and we need to be ready for death whenever it comes. Our lives need to be focused on God and his almighty loving ways. We cannot postpone our day of repentance until it is more convenient. It is best to respond today to the call of love so that today we can be assured of our place in heaven.
The voice I keep hearing in these times of calamity is calling me to respond in love and faith. Paul writes, "We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose" (Rom 8:28).
Many have already witnessed the good that has come out of these awful events. Folks have found hospitality, deep sharing and caring. Countries have rallied to help one another. Is it not a miracle that India is helping its enemy Pakistan during the recovery from the earthquake, and that nations from Africa sent relief to New Orleans? Is it not a sign of unity and goodness that President George H.W. Bush, and President Bill Clinton appear together to encourage us to respond in love to the overwhelming needs of our neighbors?
Out of death comes life! That is what the resurrection of Jesus and our faith in him teaches us.
Our world has been given many invitations this past year to respond in love to the needs of the poor. Disasters remind us that we have brothers and sisters who live in every land and that the poor are many even in our own United States. As children of God with a common Father, we have been invited to act as a family.
My hope is that the lessons learned and the compassion gained will continue even after the disasters have lessened and recover y is well underway.
So, to return to our original question" Where is God in the midst of these disasters? Always here with us, his children, embracing us with his love.
