Pope Francis – Wake Up – The Album DevoНамуна

Por Que' Sufren Los Ninos? - “Why do children suffer?”

by Matthew Willkom, Spirit Catholic Radio

Pope Francis’ “Wake Up!”Album Track #4: POR QUE’ SUFREN LOS NINOS?

In his 2015 Apostolic Journey to the Philippines, Pope Francis was faced with a question from a 12 year old girl that has vexed many believers and has kept countless others from faith in a loving God. How could such a Being allow bad things to happen to good people?

A young child, more than anyone else, reveals the goodness of God, but also the trust He places in each one of us to care for others. Why do children suffer? “Only when our hearts can ask this question and weep, can we begin to understand. There is a worldly compassion which is completely useless," the Pope says.

The sin of this world is ugly: human trafficking, abortion, embryo manipulation and child neglect (often by one’s own parents) all cry out to God for justice. Are we willing to confront these evils? If so, we have yet another choice: We can either succumb to a narrow outrage, pointing the blame solely on those who perpetrate such crimes and thereby conveniently use them as a distraction from our own sin; or, we can be moved with an other-worldly compassion for the victims (which include the perpetrators themselves) that can lead to a softening of our own hearts – a resolve not only to help the victims, but also to show mercy to those who have personally wronged me.

The latter path is what St. Francis of Assisi chose, and it is no coincidence that our current Holy Father took this saint’s name when elected pope – the same Holy Father who declared a 2015-16 Jubilee Year of Mercy. Rather than accuse others of what was wrong with the world, Francis of Assisi instead set about reforming himself, proclaiming God’s mercy. In the process, he rebuilt the Church and changed the world.

Satan entices us to sin in order that he might turn around and accuse us without any accompanying hope of redemption. However, Scripture tells us that, “…the accuser of our comrades has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. But they (the saints) have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…” (Rev. 12:10-11)

This calls forth from us a deep faith, expressed in the underlying chant present in this track, Jesu Dulcis Memoria. This hymn expresses the profound love God has for humanity, and how He rewards those who turn to Him in repentance, who show mercy to others, and ask the difficult questions…

O hope of every contrite heart!

O joy of all the meek!

To those who fall, how kind Thou art!

How good to those who seek!

The answer to the question of suffering lies ultimately with sin and its effects in the world – something that God our Father had not intended, but has provided a way through in His Son Jesus Christ, the Lamb who was Himself as innocent as a young child – who in fact became a child! The reason Jesus in turn sent the Holy Spirit was to provide hope and mercy through repentance immediately after someone is convicted of sin, since God desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth, no matter what they’ve done (cf. 1Tim. 2:4).

It can be difficult sometimes to conceive that such hope and mercy are available for those who turn and repent of the crimes outlined above. Yet, that’s exactly what we’re called to embrace, especially if I expect to receive that same mercy. Governments and NGO’s can make laws and programs that are beneficial and needed, but only Jesus Christ, through His Church, can convert hearts and lead men to their ultimate eternal destination, where every tear of every child will be wiped away, and there will be no more mourning or crying or pain (cf. Rev. 21:4).

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Matthew Willkom is the Morning Show Host and Program Manager of Spirit Catholic Radio Network. Matthew holds a Master’s degree in Pastoral Theology from Ave Maria University. Spirit Catholic Radio is heard in the U.S. throughout the Upper-Midwest and worldwide online at www.SpiritCatholicRadio.com.