Day 44: The Scandal of Evil (309-314)

Prayer by Fr. Mike: “Father in Heaven, we thank you. In all things we thank you. We know that all things will be well. But, in the meantime, we walk through this valley of the shadow of death. We walk through this veil of tears. So Lord, we know that not one of our tears falls to the ground without you knowing it. We know that none of us take a step alone without you by our side. But we ask that you please give us just enough light to take that next step. Give us just enough light to be able to trust in you with our whole lives, even in the midst of the valley of the shadow of death. Even in the midst of suffering and brokenness. Even in the midst of our sorrow and grief. We ask you to help us to trust in you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen”

Scripture References & Reflections

- compiled by Andrew Adamany


Bible Translation - RSVCE


CCC 312 "In time we can discover that God in his almighty providence can bring a good from the consequences of an evil, even a moral evil, caused by his creatures: "It was not you", said Joseph to his brothers, "who sent me here, but God. . . You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive."


Genesis 45:4–8

"So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, I pray you.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God; and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt."


Tobit 2:12 (D-R)

"Now this trial the Lord therefore permitted to happen to him, that an example might be given to posterity of his patience, as also of holy Job."


From the greatest moral evil ever committed - the rejection and murder of God's only Son, caused by the sins of all men - God, by his grace that "abounded all the more", brought the greatest of goods: the glorification of Christ and our redemption. But for all that, evil never becomes a good."


Romans 5:18–21 

"Then as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Law came in, to increase the trespass; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."


CCC 313 "We know that in everything God works for good for those who love him." The constant witness of the saints confirms this truth"


Romans 8:28–30 

"We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified."


CCC 314 "We firmly believe that God is master of the world and of its history. But the ways of his providence are often unknown to us. Only at the end, when our partial knowledge ceases, when we see God "face to face", will we fully know the ways by which - even through the dramas of evil and sin - God has guided his creation to that definitive sabbath rest for which he created heaven and earth."


Genesis 2:1–3 

"Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all his work which he had done in creation."


1 John 3:2 

"Beloved, we are God’s children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is."


Hebrews 4:4–11 

"For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way, “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And again in this place he said, 

“They shall never enter my rest.” Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he sets a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, 

“Today, when you hear his voice, 

do not harden your hearts.” 

For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not speak later of another day. So then, there remains a sabbath rest for the people of God; for whoever enters God’s rest also ceases from his labors as God did from his. 

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, that no one fall by the same sort of disobedience"