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.

A personal encounter with Christ

I've always been faintly jealous of those "born again" Christians who claim a personal conversion experience. I am very much a cradle Catholic and have been aware of my faith since at least the age of 3 (I was part-raised by a pair of Irish aunt's who both had very strong faith and practice and my deepest childhood memories are of rosaries and Benedictions). However, in a strange way, my faith has always been there so that moments of doubt rather than certainty are the things that have punctuated my faith journey.

This is not to say there have not been high-points of faith for me. In particular, the first time I attended the Chrism mass at the cathedral on Maunday Thursday I had a profound experience of Christ present in the church assembled round our bishop, successor to the Apostles.

Before my untimely accident, I had been attending an undergraduate university module on Sacraments and indeed I broke my leg while walking to my study to write a presentation on Baptism. Thus when I arrived in hospital my thoughts were very much on the subject of sacraments and it was against this background that my personal encounter with Christ happened.

My wife Monica saw informing the hospital Catholic chaplaincy as her highest priority (I have to confess it was not mine!) and so on the morning of my first day in hospital Sister Sheila arrived with holy communion.

This was the moment of my encounter with Christ. As a Catholic I believe in the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist, but never was this so profound as on that morning! As a Deacon, I am active in the celebration of Mass and so, to some extent, at the moment I receive communion the sense of encounter is brief because I move on immediately to administering the chalice during the distribution of holy communion to the congregation.

Also at that moment in hospital I was utterly vulnerable, on my back in bed with my leg in a temporary plaster (and semi-naked in those ridiculous gowns hospitals provide). So as Sister Shiela brought communion to me I became aware, as never before, of the presence of Christ in the Eucharist -but I also became aware in a new way that the Eucharist is effective spiritual food and I discovered a personal spiritual hunger usually submerged in the routine of my life. Most of all, I became especially aware of the presence of Christ in Sister Sheila herself, for the Church is the spiritual body of Christ and Sister Shiela, acting on behalf of the church was the hand of Christ reaching out to me on that morning. All that I had been thinking about during my course on Sacraments was distilled in that moment. Here was an effective sign and a source of grace.

Over the next few days or weeks, I will continue to write on the sacraments but I'd like to summarise some thoughts in a few short sentences.

To fully experience the sacraments we need to be open to them. We have to realise our spiritual hunger and be vulnerable to the presence of Christ.

We need to see the presence of Christ not just in the consecrated host but in the church -the people of God assembled. Indeed I would say, in human terms, the presence of Christ in the people of God is a more powerful and effective sign.

Anything the Church does in Christ's name makes Christ present; so taking communion to the sick and housebound and the work of organisations like the SVP should be seen as a critically important part of the life of our parish communities.

There is more to come, but I hope these thought may form a basis for reflection by those who read them.

First Words

Every work needs some form of introduction. I've been a Deacon in the Parish of St Bartholomew, Norbury (London, England) for nearly 9 years. As I start this blog the parish is having a retreat with the principal theme of the Sacraments looked on as manifestations of God's call to the individual Christian to form their lives around their Christian vocation.

I was really looking forward to taking part in the retreat as I've just completed a 4 week module on Sacraments and thus felt both equipped and motivated to take part -but this was not to be! Three weeks ago I slipped on ice in the back garden and broke both bones in my lower left leg! The fractures plus subsequent operation led to some complications and I'm just home from 3 weeks in hospital. I'm stuck at home, but I have a computer and an Internet connection so I thought a remote contribution might be an idea.

I believe passionately that we should all be "grown up Catholics". The church has a long history of expecting compliance and obedience from the Catholic faithful -but has not felt the need for Catholics to truly understand and own their beliefs. Even 50 years after Blessed Pope John XXIII announced the council which would return to the laity their right to fully participate in the life of the church, there is still so much to do.

In any modern congregation their will be lay people who are doctors, nurses, teachers, accountants, and members of myriad professions. Today we expect over 50% of our young people to go into third level education. We cannot expect people to be wise in the matters of the world and be happy to leave them ignorant of the matters of God. Sadly though, this situation is commonplace in the church of the third millennium.

I believe God has given me a gift of understanding, I can "get" quite complex ideas with relative ease, but I also have a gift in communication I find it easy to relate theoretical matter to life and the lived experience. With God's grace I hope in this blog to throw some personal light on the matters which form our mutual faith in Christ, lived out as members of his spiritual body on earth, the church.