Sermonette: May 8, 2023

During this Easter season, it is good for us to reflect upon that truth identified by both Sts. Augustine and Aquinas in their writings summarily stated that God allows evil, so that a greater good can result. Note that by allowing evil this means in no shape or form that God is the cause of evil. In fact, Augustine states explicitly in Enchiridion, "For almighty God ..., because he is supremely good, would never allow any evil whatsoever to exist in his works if he were not so all-powerful and good as to cause good to emerge from evil itself."

We can see examples of this throughout history beginning with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Unless God had a better plan, He would never have allowed the serpent to tempt Eve into eating the forbidden fruit and share it with Adam. By their disobedience, mankind's intimate friendship with God was severely damaged and paradise was lost. Sin and death entered the world. It looked like the devil had won. However, God meted out the punishments for this transgression. With the Genesis 3:15 proclamation, "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between her seed and your seed; she shall crush your head," it was clear that the devil had not won and that the stage for a future battle was set.

The better plan and future battle was brought into fulfillment millennia later when the new Eve, Mary, gave her fiat with her "let it be done according thy word" (Luke 1:38) reply to God's call through the Angel Gabriel to be the mother of God. The new Adam, Jesus, reversed the disobedience of the old Adam with His "Thy will be done" response to the Father throughout his lifetime, especially in the Garden of Gethsemane when he freely embraced the cross during His passion on Holy Week. Again as Jesus was hanging on the cross on Good Friday, it looked like the devil had won. However, the apparent victory was short-lived because on Easter Sunday Jesus rose from the dead, bringing redemption to mankind. The ransom for the transgression of the original Adam was paid. The intimate friendship with God had been restored. Sin and death were conquered. The devil did not win. God had once again allowed evil to occur so a greater good could result.

This good news Easter message needs to be written on our hearts and everywhere as a reminder. When life gets you down, everything appears to be going in the wrong direction and it surely looks like evil is growing unchecked, a greater good is waiting around the corner. God is fully in charge. He is surely allowing the evil, so a greater good can result. The devil is never going to win. We are reminded of this each week when we observe Friday as penitential followed by a Sunday that is celebratory. That celebration reaches its peak by going to church on Sunday.