Can a day go by when we are not driven to wonder, “Why did God let this happen?”  We see natural disasters like the hurricane that struck the Caribbean, or the earthquake in Afghanistan, or tornadoes in the United States.  We can point to floods and droughts, storms and wildfires.  Why does God let these things take place?  How about war and disease and starvation?  How about cruelty and violence and prejudice?  There seems to be a never-ending list of problems that are part of the order in our world and we think that these need not be so.  Where is God in all this?  What is God’s will?

We can offer timid explanations and justifications for some of these things—especially those involving human agency—but no satisfying answer emerges.  In his novel, The Brothers Karamazov, Fyodor Dostoevsky argues that the suffering of innocent children is incompatible with an all-powerful and all-good God.  And we can hear the reasonableness of that position.

These thoughts came to the fore during this week as I read the newspaper and then listened to the reflections of Paul as he writes to the Romans.  He says:

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!

How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways!

     “For who has known the mind of the Lord

     or who has been his counselor?”

     “Or who has given him anything

     that he may be repaid?”

For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Rom 11:33-36)

Paul would point to the unknowable greatness of God and the gap between God’ will and human understanding.  We cannot know the reason that God deals with our world as he does or allows it to proceed in its ways.  Remember the story of Job?  Job thinks that he can interrogate God with an argument over the divine actions.  When God confronts Job, without answering his assertions, Job is reduced to silence and humble surrender.  Or one may look to a more positive reflection on the matter as one finds it in another passage of Romans: “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28)

The difficulties of our world can give pause to someone who wants to argue for the compassion and greatness of the Divine without qualification.  Yet, we are called to a trust that knows no boundaries when we place our belief in God without compromise.  Perhaps Mary’s words at the Incarnation have meaning here: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.”  She surrenders herself completely to God’s direction and purpose in her life.  This leads to the cross, but also the Resurrection and Pentecost.

Vincent was a great believer in Divine Providence.  Regarding difficulties he would write: “Our Lord is not permitting all these things without some reason; it is unknown to us now, but we will see it some day” (CCD VII, 304).  We pray this to be so.