Why do bad things happen to good people?

[Mrs. Bro. Adam]

I've been wonering this a lot lately. Nothing has happened to me, but when I look around and see people who I have grown to love and know that they seek to follow God with all their heart; why do bad things happen to good people?

[Brother Adam]

"For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me" Matthew 26:11

Because sin reigns in this world, there will always be those who choose to do evil in this world. And like Job the righteous will be subject to trials and suffering.

"The suffering, in a special way, are united to Christ for the salvation of the world" - [i]Lumen Gentium[/i]

[Mrs. Bro. Adam]

It's not fair, though.

[Brother Adam]

Maybe not, but think about the crown those who are in desperate poverty and pain who live out their life praising God and loving Christ will have? They will be eating BBQ Chicken with Jesus, Mary, and Joseph while we'll be somewhere in the background.

[Moosey]

Good people who choose to follow Christ suffer with Him.

[Mrs. Bro. Adam]

I dunno. It just doesn't make sense to me. If someone does God's will all their lives, and they suffer beause of it, what would be the point in it?

[Brother Adam]

Eternal Salvation

And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Matthew 10:38

And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23

[ForHimAlone]

God will only give to each of us as much as we can handle with His grace. Saint Faustina often asks why her confessor, Father Sopocko, must suffer so much when he is such a good man.

St. Faustina- "Jesus, this is Your affair, so why are You acting this way toward him? It seems to me that You are making difficulties for him while at the same time ordering him to act."
Jesus- "Write that by day and night My gaze is fixed upon him, and I permit these adversities in order to increase his merit. I do not reward for good results but for the patience and hardship undergone for My sake." (86)

Edited August 4, 2005 by ForHimAlone

[thessalonian]

There is none good, not when compared to the goodness of God that is. There is none holy when compared to the holiness of God. Sufferings is meant for our sanctification. It is a blessings to suffer for the glory of God.

Matt 6

2] And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
[3] "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
[4] "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
[5] "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
[6] "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
[7] "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
[8] "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
[9] "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
[10] "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
[11]
"Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
[12] Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Afflications keep us humble, knowing that however good we are we are not good enough and need his grace to grow in love.

Blessings

[ForHimAlone]

Here's another thing Jesus says regarding St. Faustina's confessor about his suffering that came from the work with the Divine Mercy devotion.

"I am acting thus with him to give testimony that this work is Mine. Tell him not to fear anything; My gaze is on him day and night. There will be so many crowns to form his crown as there will be souls saved by this work. It is not for the success of a work but for the suffering that I give reward."

"There is no way to heaven except the way of the cross. I followed it first. You must learn that it is the shortest way.... I am giving you a share in those sufferings because of My special love for you and in view of the high degree of holiness I am intending for you in Heaven. A suffering soul is closer to My heart." (Jesus to suffering souls -1487)

Edited August 4, 2005 by ForHimAlone

[Jaime]

[quote name='Mrs. Bro. Adam' date='Aug 4 2005, 08:29 AM']I dunno.  It just doesn't make sense to me.  If someone does God's will all their lives, and they suffer beause of it, what would be the point in it?
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[/quote]


Name me one person in all of scripture that did what God asked of them and did not suffer for it.

I'll give you a hint, his name didn't rhyme with schmesus.

Edited August 4, 2005 by jaime

[Mrs. Bro. Adam]

But why would God call someone to suffer their entire lives here on this Earth? Why wouldn't He give them a break from it all?

[Brother Adam]

It isn't shocking, but it is notable how for the most part, Americans and others from industrialized countries have lost all meaning in suffering, yet this is what Christ calls us to. Why do good people suffer? We suffer because God calls us to suffering for the redemption of man. If we live in peace and comfort, we are not living out our call to Christ. Suffering should not be looked upon negatively, as something to brush off ourselves and continue to seek self-gradification. Suffering here and now must be embraced for we are not home. We are sojourning in a strange land towards the heavenly kingdom. We are walking through a land ruled by sin, and if we are comfortable in this land, something is seriously wrong. We choose to sin against God, and Christ came, innocent, and suffered death for us, and now we choose to suffer with Christ "to make up for what is lacking in the cross of Christ".

[desertwoman]

The rain shall fall on the just and the unjust.

[Guest advice_girl]

If you find yourself struggling in a situation, remember that this struggle will build perseverance, which, in turn, will bulid a stronger faith and bringer you closer to Christ. Pray to your Mother. She's always listening!


*advice_girl*

[Nicole8223]

Suffering is a great form of sanctification. It is a gift, not a curse. It is an incredible blessing that we can suffer with Christ.

We think of suffering in terms of our flesh...its hard and painful. But spiritually, it is like ointment on a wound. It is a healing and beautiful process. Without suffering, we can never be united to Christ.

There is a bigger picture than we can see...God's got it all planned out.

God Bless!!

[Carrie]

It'll only make you stronger, trust me.

[Jaime]

Theres a wonderful book called (strangely enough) "When Bad Things Happen to Good People" by Rabbi Harold Kushner. Its a phenomenal read!!

On a totally pointless sidenote, I met Rabbi Kushner one time and he is an egotistical jerk.


Great book though

[Mrs. Bro. Adam]

[quote name='hot stuff' date='Aug 4 2005, 09:52 AM']

On a totally pointless sidenote, I met Rabbi Kushner one time and he is an egotistical jerk. 

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[/quote]


That's hilarious!

[Guest Eremite]

John Paul II makes a beautiful point in "Crossing the Threshold of Hope" that the passion of Christ was, in certain sense, the only way God could justify himself before humanity. He came not only with words of wisdom and a call for change. He submitted himself in every way to the daily suffering of our race, culminated in a supreme way on calvary. When we can't comprehend the purpose of suffering, our answer is not primarily words of reason, but the image of Christ hanging on the cross. If God would condescend to share in our suffering, what can we do except join him in bearing it willingly?

Denise Levertov's "Salvator Mundi: Via Crucis" expresses succinctly the purpose of our suffering and trial:

[quote]Sublime acceptance, to be absolute, had to have welled
up from those depths where purpose
drifted for mortal moments.[/quote]

Gold is purified in the fire, and our souls are perfected in many trials. We can persevere humbly and overcome them, or we can submit to them and despair...