God could easily root sin/evil out of this world, but who would be condemned for all eternity? The prostitute who ran away from an abusive home; the alcoholic or drug addict who suffers from images of a war he never started, the twisted young man who shot and killed another gang member because the gang was the only family he knew; your son / my daughter?? Which one of our children would we be willing to condemn for all eternity for their errant ways? Wouldn’t we want that child to have the chance to feel sorrow, to ask God for forgiveness, to have every chance to spend eternity in heaven? Wouldn’t we love them so much that we would want to take their place? Do we really think God loves his children any less than you or I? God wants each of his children to have the chance to know him, to experience his love and forgiveness; that is why he has shown us that mercy triumphs over justice, and that is why Jesus took our place on the cross. And we who love him, are called upon to plant the good seeds of mercy. If you look deeply, you will see those who do his work (Prison Ministries, Doctors without Borders, Catholic Charities, Food for The Poor), and a multitude of good people connecting and working to bring his mercy to the world today. If your heart is heavy when you read the newspaper or watch the news on TV, then join those who plant the seeds of good and give of your time and treasure. Volunteer in a soup kitchen, homeless shelter or your church; give up an evening out or buy a little less at the grocery store and send the money you save to those who have nothing to eat. Plant the seeds of compassion and love and watch them grow. Work towards nourishing those seeds of good until that day when Jesus returns. When that blessed day arrives, those who love him will truly live with him “Happily Ever After.”
Sylvia Bates