Whenever family members die from physical ailments or accidents, invariably someone asks, “Why did God allow this to happen? Why did God permit this?”
Now, countless people, young and old are asking the same questions in the country of Haiti. The further one delves into these mysteries (with Divine Revelation to guide us with the assistance of the gifts of knowledge, wisdom and understanding) the more one can begin to appreciate the gravity of the fall of mankind in the garden after the creation of our first parents.
As beautiful as this world is, God did not create it as it is now. Before the fall, death, disease, trauma, suffering, etc. did not exist, but entered the world after our first parents decided to disobey God their creator. Created with Divine life in their souls, known as sanctifying grace, they were destined to be assumed into heaven after their earthly lives. But with their disobedience, all was lost, including sanctifying grace within their souls, their ticket to heaven. It is this graceless condition known as Original Sin that we inherit from our first parents.
Fortunately, we know the rest of the story. God, who could have left us in our sorry state with the gates of heaven closed, took on flesh from the Virgin Mary to die, so we who were dead in sin could live eternally and not temporally here on earth. Didn’t we just celebrate this mystery at Christmas time? With His passion, death, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus has re-opened the gates to the only place where perfect happiness exists, heaven and not here on earth.
It is no accident that the last day of the Christmas season is the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Jesus Christ, true God and true man, who needed not baptism, sanctified the waters of our own baptism, when Original Sin was removed and the gates to the other sacraments were opened.
But until we go through the door of death with sanctifying grace in our souls, we as members of the mystical body of Christ suffer. Since we are all members of the same body of Christ, “If one member suffers, all suffer together” (1 Cor 12:26). This is why countless individuals all across the world are responding to the tragedy in Haiti. After hearing the news, I know that you too felt that inner pain.
Immediately after the earthquake, Pope Benedict XVI asked all Catholic charity organizations to respond. That is why Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska has started a relief effort. Many of you have already responded by donating through second collections across the diocese which will be forwarded to us, and others have sent checks directly to us with ‘Haiti earthquake fund’ in the memo of the check. All funds sent to us will be forwarded to the relief effort.
The response so far has been tremendous, evidence that when “One member suffers, all suffer together” (1 Cor 12:26). I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your generosity, allowing us at Catholic Social Services to help not only the needy of southern Nebraska but beyond! Please never forget that we at Catholic Social Services will keep not only the living and deceased Haitian earthquake victims but you, your family and intentions in our daily prayers!
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