11/3/2017

Q: Why did God create Adam and Eve?

A: We learn from the Book of Genesis that Adam and Eve were created in the image and likeness of God.  We also know that Adam and Eve and all humanity have been created to love and to serve God.  In order to understand just how deeply God loves us, God the Father values us so much that he gave us his only Son for our salvation. It is only through the Son of God, Jesus Christ in which, humanity, the offspring of Adam and Eve, have been reunited with God following the Original Sin of Adam and Eve.

This having been said, we are grateful to God for creating Adam and Eve and subsequently, us, in order to love him and to serve him. We understand our purpose perfectly well as Jesus reminds us in his conversation with the Pharisees and Sadducees that the greatest commandment of all is to love God and neighbor. In doing so you and I remain faithful to our being made in God’s image and likeness.

Q: How do you respond if someone asks you why God allows hurricanes and fires to cause damage and death?

A: You correctly state that we suffer catastrophic events in this world. While we know God does not will evil upon us, we also know that our suffering is defined by Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross.  Jesus gives our suffering meaning because he first suffered for us.  

While we do not will bad happenings on anyone, we should recognize each of these instances as an opportunity to bestow God’s compassion and love upon all people. We have a Christian obligation to assist our brothers and sisters who are victims of hurricanes, earthquakes and fires that destroy so much of what they hold of great value, including their lives. These terrible events are moments for you and for me to “step-up” and share God’s mercy through all that you and I can do.

Q: When we pray to God what should we focus on?

A: When we pray to God we are in conversation with God. This is true even at times when we feel it is a one-sided conversation, that is, we don’t seem to hear God’s voice. Never forget that God hears all of our prayers and so as you pray, picture yourself speaking directly to the face of God. 

For instance, Jesus Christ taught us the  Lord’s Prayer (the Our Father) and so we should recognize that we are speaking to God the Father himself. Jesus also reminds us the great value each one of us has in God’s eyes. 

When you and I pray to God, we should focus on the face of God and not permit other things on the outside to distract us. How blessed we are as, made in God’s image and likeness, and through the great gift of Jesus’ Incarnation and Paschal Mystery, we can be called children of God and address God as Father.

As we embark this month of November may we keep our fellow brothers and sisters who have died in our payers, entrusting each and every one of them to the most merciful Father.