St. Gabriel Parish, Chesterfield-VA

1. St. Gabriel Parish, Chesterfield-VA THE PROBLEM OF SUFFERING, PAIN OR AGONY: … but the just one because of his faith, shall live. (Hab 2:4)GREATEST GIFT TO GIVE IS FORGIVENESS. It is a difficult Gift to give always, hence, Lord increase our Faith WHY SHOULD WE SUFFER? Why should the Innocent or Christian suffer? Rev. Fr. Dr. Felix Rex Amofa

2. Rev. Fr. Dr. Felix Rex Amofa

3. PRESENTATION OUTLINE • 1. PROBLEM OF SUFFERING- REAL • 2. GOD’S ATTRIBUTES • 3. PRACTICAL QUESTIONS • 4. CAUSES OF SUFFERING AND PROBLEM OF FREE WILL • 5. SUFFERINGS/ PROBLEMS (= CROSSES) • 6. CHRISTIAN IN THE FACE OF SUFFERING • 7. IS THE PROBLEM SOLVED? Recommendations: LORD INCREASE OUR FAITH Rev. Fr. Dr. Felix Rex Amofa

4. PRESENTATION OBJECTIVE At the END of the Interactive Talk or Discussion: • I. To have a better orientation or understanding of the Problem of Suffering • II. As Christians we ought to be spiritually equipped in the midst of Suffering: FAITH • 1. THE PROBLEM OF SUFFERING • Mystery of Innocent Suffering is Real (Subject that touches all of us at one time or another. It cannot be denied. It comes in types • Habakkuk, a deep thinker is pictured to be a Wrestler with God. He knew what it is to experience temptation to faithlessness. • He wanted to know some of the same things we would like to know: Why is God so silent while the faithless conquer and the wicked devour the good? • Why God does not intervene in the world- especially when suffering and evil seem to be triumphing? Rev. Fr. Dr. Felix Rex Amofa

5. THE PROBLEM OF SUFFERING • Why does God tolerate the wicked? The people of Judah have sinned, to be sure, but why should God choose to punish them by means of monstrous people who were more wicked than themselves? • Problem is REAL: Habakkuk, wrestle with God • Story of Job • Jesus’ Experience: Felt forsaken by the Father • Vision of St. Theresa of Avila asked Christ why his followers have to suffer? Christ answered that was how he deals with his disciples. St. Theresa retorted that is why you do not have many. Rev. Fr. Dr. Felix Rex Amofa

6. HOLY Is 6:3 MERCY RIGHTEOUS Ps 7:11 ALPHA & OMEGA SOVEREIGN Dn 4:17-25 GOOD GOD ??? LOVING OTHERS FATHER OMNI POTENT OMNI CENT PHILOSOPHICAL & THEOLOGICAL ISSUE (REASON & FAITH) • 2. ATTRIBUTES of GOD • How can God be “ALL” and there is suffering, pain and above all SIN? • PRACTICAL QUESTION? Are we not defending falsehood Divine Providence? • Why should the guilty/ the sinner rather rejoice? • Are Sinners really rejoicing? THESE TITLES WHEN JUSTAPOSED TO REALITY, DO THEY MAKE ONE WONDER, DOUBTFUL & SAD? .

7. 3. Practical Questions? Why does a loving God allow suffering in our world? Does He care? What is our allegedly Merciful God up to? • How do we make sense of suffering? • How do we reconcile the reality of so much suffering, anguish and misery with a divine being who is all-loving and infinitely merciful? • If God is good and all powerful, why so much evil in the world? Why do we have war and murder, atrocity after atrocity, famine after famine? Why should innocent children die at hands of cruel men? Why do we suffer needlessly? Why??? • Theologians and philosophers for centuries have also wrestled with this question. But they have not been able to give a satisfactory or rational answer. • But it is all about God’s Sovereignty. Rev. Fr. Dr. Felix Rex Amofa

8. God’s Response to Habakkuk • Final justice will surely come (2:3) but in God’s own time • Bringing the message down to individuals, God said the evil doers shall pass away but good people shall live because of their FAITHFULNESS • Faithfulness, in general is an unswerving adherence to someone or something by way of a union such as marriage, friendship, honour, oath, or promise. It goes hand in hand with faith. • Faithfulness in the face of negative situations does not demand that we see these as being ‘the will of God’ and remain passively accepting. • But we should continue to trust in the Lord and have faith in him. Real faith is proved by steadfast loyalty to God in times of adversity. Psalm urges us not to harden our hearts to God in bad times as well good times. Rev. Fr. Dr. Felix Rex Amofa

9. 4. Causes of Suffering: Other Biblical Perspective? Why does a loving God allow suffering, sorrow, sickness and even death among His own children? Job asked this question and we continue to ask. • This world is not our home. It enables us to focus on our eternal home (Ps 119:19) and God. Suffering keeps this world from becoming too attractive. Think, what will happen if we don’t die, if we don’t experience any pain, etc? • Suffering can bring out our best- support in times of disaster, unity is enshrined, we become more sympathetic • It makes us more dependent on God and appreciative • BUT • Spiritual Outlook: My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways (Is 55:8) • God thinks and acts on a level different from ours. He sees from a much broader overview, so what are we missing, trying to unravel a MYSTERY? Rev. Fr. Dr. Felix Rex Amofa

10. 4. CAUSES OF SUFFERING: BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE We are limited in our quest, (limited exploring the Unlimited) Suffering transcends all class, race, ethnicity, culture, privilege. There is no corner untouched by grief, no demographic, no alliance. If you have not suffered, just live longer. • Understanding why God allows evil and its resultant suffering requires a fundamental understanding of one of God’s greatest gifts as well as how man continually abuse that gift: THE GIFT OF FREE WILL (Freedom from Choice): You are free to choose, but you are not free from the consequence of your choice. • Even though He gives us the free will, He also shares with us the consequences of our choice (Dt 30:15-19) • Sometimes people suffer because of self-inflicted misery. We have destroyed ourselves. Adam, Eve, Jonah, David, Saul, Judas • Sometimes people suffer at the sins of others (Social effect of sin) Bathsheba, Hosea, the Good Samaritan, Paul Rev. Fr. Dr. Felix Rex Amofa

11. 4. CAUSES OF SUFFERING A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE • Sometimes people suffer through no human fault at all. The Saints- no indicator of divine disfavor • Sometimes people suffer because people get sick, old and die. This will happen to every person, family and community on earth. • Sometimes people suffer because we live on a physical earth involving tornadoes, earthquakes, wildfires, tsunamis. Natural disasters are part of any living, shifting , fluctuating planet • There is no formula or one answer to suffering • In trials we should look beyond the present and focus on potential benefits (Easier said than done or accepted!!!) • Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril (Rm 8:38-39) Rev. Fr. Dr. Felix Rex Amofa

12. 5. KINDS OF CROSSES These are the Challenges; Difficulties; Problems; Pains; Agonies; Misfortunes; Suffering; Tribulations; Disasters; Sickness; Temptations; Hardships; Death, etc. we experience everyday: • KINDS: • Natural Cross- Flood, Disaster, Earthquake, Sickness, Aching bones of old age, frustration of being young • Social Cross -Social Status- Married/ Single; Boy/Girl; Beautiful/Ugly; Rich/Poor; Tall/Short; Black/White • Vocational / Professional Crosses- Associated with work one does, duties and responsibilities • Artificial or Self-made Crosses- Cross of incorrigibility • Spiritual Crosses- Assisting or helping someone who needs help in a situation/ danger (Being a good Samaritan) Rev. Fr. Dr. Felix Rex Amofa

13. OTHERS SELF NATURE SCIENCE Analytical NONCHRISTIAN CHRISTIAN  FAITY COMMUNITY  SPIRITUAL AGENTS / PRIESTS GOD PRAYER / RETREAT 6. IN THE FACE OF SUFFERING • Humankind / Non Christian Approach • Analytical • Self • Nature /Science • Christian Approach:FAITH • Christ’s invitation- take up your cross and follow… • Come to me all that labour and find life burdensome… • My grace is ENOUGH for you… • Story of Footprints • No Cross No Crown (NCNC) POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS SOUGHT Rev. Fr. Dr. Felix Rex Amofa

14. 7. Is the Problem Solved? • NO, it still remains a Mystery. • Do we have a better understanding of it? • Do we know what to do in the face of problems? • How can we solve the Problems: Recommendations: FAITH IN GOD What does God want us to do for those who suffer? (Gal 6:2 Bear one another’s burden and so fulfil the law of Christ) When will all suffering end? (Rev. 21:4 God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away) St. Mother Theresa: “There are so much poverty in this world because you and I refuse to share.” So many problems- people naked, homeless, hungry, in sorrow etc. because You and I refuse to love from the heart Rev. Fr. Dr. Felix Rex Amofa

15. ENCOURAGEMENT • My Grace is sufficient for you (2 Corinthinans 12:9) • Do not let your hearts be troubled, Trust in God (John 14:1) • Do not be afraid for I myself will help you. (Isaiah 41:14) • I made you, I formed you in the womb and I will help you. ( Isaiah 44:2) • Do not worry about your life ( Luke 12:22) • Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered (Matthew 10:30) • Mountains be shaken, hills be removed, yet My unfailing love will not be shaken (Isaiah 54:10) I AM WHO I AM (Exodus 3:14) I am with you always until the end of the age ( Matthew 28:20) Rev. Fr. Dr. Felix Rex Amofa

16. THANKS, STAY BLESSED Rev. Fr. Dr. Felix Rex Amofa