Well not really.
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But I want to take this opportunity to say I know absolutely nothing. That said - I think I was wrong about some stuff I wrote. When something catastrophic happens in the world and people start saying it is God's punishment for sin, I always get a little miffed and point to the Gospel passage about the tower of Siloam, when Jesus told his listeners, "Do you think these people were greater sinners than you? You will all come to the same end unless you repent."
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I've always put the emphasis on the not passing judgement part. Evangelists seem to like to use these things to blame people and condemn - at least that's the impression I get. So I react to that Westboro-Bible-banger mentality, without really understanding the consequences of what I say. However, it occurred to me later that Jesus never told his listeners - "this wasn't God's punishment" - he said, "You will all come to the same end unless you repent." I was only hearing what I wanted to hear, deep down thinking, God couldn't, wouldn't chastise or punish us like that. I tell myself, 'It's just a natural disaster after all.' Yet even insurance companies refer to natural disasters as an "act of God." An act of God works for businessmen because they don't have to pay out. Likewise, it works for us when we think those people are being punished and we maybe just got off with a warning. (Unless of course we dismiss the whole thing as a random event and say, 'that's too bad', and move on.) The point is, people think like people - God thinks like God - God is God.
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Questioning the wrath of God.
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Does he get pissed? Scripture says he does. The prophets say he does. The saints say he does. But today theologians seem to know better - or at least they seem to mince God's words and chalk everything up to random natural phenomenon and rarely if ever offer any positive instruction or moral teaching except to justify man's sins. Is it any wonder then that people of good will go after apparitions and mystics to find some semblance of religious truth? In this they sometimes resemble those who seek assurance and approval through mediums and fortune tellers - and priests and bishops do not even try to restrain them and teach them, saying instead, "Let them go here or there if it is leading them to pray more..." Whatever.
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The mystery of the Cross.
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In today's Gospel Christ refers to his listeners - and ourselves - as an evil generation because we seek signs - "yet no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah." It seems to me Christ Crucified is that sign - left to us in the Memorial of his Passion - the Eucharist. I may have it wrong, but I think God does chastise humanity - doesn't the Crucifix demonstrate that? Doesn't the Good Thief reveal to us our participation in that? Isn't suffering part of the deal? Do we not need purgation? If we don't, why do we believe in purgatory? God disciplines his sons - as St. Paul tells us - I think we are obliged to believe that.
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In addition, St. John of the Cross tells us that we can know the causes of events naturally, without supernatural revelations, or searching through dubious prophecies and mystics:
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"Supernatural events can be known in their causes, since divine Providence responds most certainly and justly to what the good or bad causes arising from humanity demand. One can know naturally that a certain person or city, or some other factor, will reach such a point that God in his providence and justice must respond in conformity with the punishment or reward that cause warrants." - Ascent, Bk. II, Ch. 21: 9
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So yeah, I really do think God chastises humanity - obviously the good and the bad suffer. Our hope is in Jesus Christ crucified - our answers are found in him, the way, the truth, and the life. It is in the cross that mercy and truth, justice and peace intersect - together in love. Therein lies my hope and trust.
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Even a governor in Japan seems to believe what is happening is beyond natural: "The outspoken governor of Tokyo, Shintaro Ishihara, told reporters Monday that the disaster was "punishment from heaven" because Japanese have become greedy." Perhaps we know better however, huh?
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Our Lady of Akita, pray for us.
