The problem of evil

The ‘evil’ meant here is not the evil which comes because of natural causes like the tsunami, the hurricane, the storm, a flash flood, an earthquake. It is not the evil caused by real accidents that happen beyond man’s control, not because of man’s negligence or carelessness. The evil meant here is that which is caused by the free choice of man’s created will setting itself in opposition to God who is Goodness itself or violating His Holy Will. We speak here of the evil which we call ‘sin.’ God has given us free choice to choose between good or doing something evil which is sin. The mysterious power of God allows us to choose as He did with our first parents who chose to disregard their beginning as creatures of God, their Creator and their beginning, our sense of creatureliness elevated above all creation because we are made in God’s image. We’ve got the likeness of God because we can know and think and above all like God we are able to love.

Oh, we know those things already, say those who have read the Bible story of the creation of man and the universe or everything and everyone that exists. We have studied that in our religion classes or if we have not studied religion at all, God has implanted in every human being, that sense of right and wrong, of good and evil. Even the savage in the jungle will run away if he happens to kill another person like him. Cain hid himself after killing his younger brother Abel. And God showed him, he was accountable for the crime.

What I am trying to say here is that everyone of us humans have been endowed with a conscience which will sound the alerts when danger of sinning or the temptation to evil comes. Watch out when that conscience gives the signal, then it will all depend on whether you will obey or misuse your freedom of choice between good and evil. Have we learned our moral lessons of right and wrong?

The situation of the Philippines today is a picture of what Jesus speaks of in His parable of weeds growing among wheat. It is vast field where good and evil are fighting for ascendancy. God allows weeds and wheat to grow together. How much time have we wasted deliberating, analyzing, investigating, quarreling with each other, insulting one another, throwing stones at supposed culprits, getting media to thresh out all the controversies in politics, government, people from the ground up rallying in anger demanding solutions to the problem of evil in our land. Until now, no definite solution is in sight. There are a thousand and one opinions which seem feasible but which seem to blur the vision of a better future for the Philippines. Where is the crux of the whole matter? Shall we be forever seeking the right steps towards the right road and destination?

Trouble is we are bypassing the right road and we come nearer and nearer to the more rugged terrains bordering on even more dangerous precipices. Only the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) gives some light to the matter by stating that only if an honest moral accountability is attained and consciences will own the truth about themselves can we arrive at some good solutions to the problem of evil in the Philippines. That comes nearer to what Jesus, the Word, says in His parables today: "He who sows good seed, is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed, the children of the Kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one and the enemy who sow them are the children of the devil. The harvest is the end of the age. The Son of Man will send all His angels, and will collect out of His Kingdom, all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace.... Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father" (Mt 13:36-43).

Let us all, therefore, mark this Word of God today. All of us should stop our chattering in the style of magpies; all – politicians, government people in the upper echelons, parties and groups, businessmen, rallyists, poor and rich alike – all of us pause and reflect individually, looking first into oneself before condemning or ‘throwing the first stone’ whether he or she is poisonous weed or pure wheat; whether he or she is bad or good seed. We hope each one will choose to be the smallest of seed, the humble mustard seed willing to die to self and which will someday grow into a big tree where tired travellers like us can rest under its shade; or be to the wheat flour leaven enriching the bread of the world.

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Matthew 13:16-43.