The Problem of Evil

One of the most frequently used challenges to Christianity by those who reject any idea of God is the problem of evil; "How can a good God allow evil to exist". It is possible to identify the good and bad in humanity as present because of human sin, what Chesterton called "the indisputable dirt". It is more difficult to argue a reasonable cause for human suffering caused by disease, famine and natural disasters.

I recently read an article by John Polkinghorne in which he points out that the same natural forces which formed the mountains we often find so beautiful also cause earthquakes, the same processes in our bodies which fight illness can cause cancers. There is in essence a creative / destructive tension in all the processes of nature.

During Lent those preparing for Baptism at Easter go through a process called the Scrutinies. Ideally these take place amongst the parish community at Sunday Mass. The church has chosen three Gospel stories which draw out the essence of what is is to have faith. Firstly we use the story of the man born blind with its theme of Christ as light, the story of the blind man's growth in faith, and the contrast of the rejection of Christ -despite the miracle -by the Jewish establishment. The second Scrutiny uses the story of the woman at the well with its theme of living water. This story also has a conversion but also has the presence of sin in the woman's immoral past -but in conversion the woman moves to being a disciple and proclaims the good news of Christ to her own village. The third story is the raising of Lazarus from the dead with the theme of resurrection. This story takes place in the community of Christ's followers, so these are people who believe but don't yet understand the full ramifications of Christ's mission on earth.

The church uses these stories because they are developmental, each can build on the previous and they unfold a full understanding of what it is to be a true follower of Christ and what it is that Christ effects in us through the sacrament of baptism.

In the Scrutinies, a series of questions are addressed to the Elect (those preparing for Baptism) in which they are asked to accept the truth of Christ's actions in their lives -to see the world illuminated by Christ and to reject the works of darkness, to seek the living waters of baptism and discard any part of their old life which is sinful and to trust in the resurrection.

Anyway, back to my initial theme. In the introduction to the story of the man born blind the disciples ask "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, for him to have been born blind?" but Jesus replies "he was born blind so that the works of God might be displayed in him."

I was studying this text a week ago as part of a course on RCIA -the Church's programme for those wishing to become Catholics of which the Scrutinies are part. Each time you hear or read the Gospel there is a chance to hear something entirely new, such is the power of the Word of God and at that moment I had a dramatic new understanding of that phrase "so that the works of God might be displayed". This is what Christ did on earth and it is the fundamental mission of the Church, to make the works of God present in the world.

In the last week there has been much negative press coverage of the opening of the Pope's visit to Africa -because of his comments on the use of condoms. What the press has failed to note is that the Catholic Church is the largest AIDS support charity in the world; nearly 27% of all AIDS clinics and programmes are run by the church and the church has been the largest provider of retro viral drugs to those who are HIV positive.

This is a real and immediate human story of the work of Christ in the world. The forces of darkness refuse to admit the light that is present in the work of the church.

In the end evil only exists in humanity, nature may challenge us, but it is how we behave that is right and wrong. As Christians we have the power to reach out to those who suffer and make present the goodness of God and that is our mission as church and it is to this good that the Elect commit themselves when they respond to the Scrutinies.