Recently, a parishioner gave me a book called "People Doing Good Deeds Encountered Bad Things". The original title of the book is "When Bad Things Happen to Good People". The author is a Jewish teacher, Harold S. Kushner, and the book has become one of the best-selling books in the United States.<br/><br/>
It goes without saying that the book’s title is very attractive because it is related to people's daily experience. I have not yet finished reading the book; thus, I do not know how the author concludes. It will be revealed later. Since the author is a Jewish, he has his own insight. I shall read the book from the perspective of Christian faith.<br/><br/>
Jesus is the beloved son of God the Father. He has also cried out: "Father, let this cup pass from me!” God seemed to ignore Jesus, and even seemed to forget about Him, letting Jesus cried on the Cross: "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"<br/><br/>
The only explanation is based on love. Because of love, Jesus is willing to take up all the sufferings of humankind. St. John said: "God's love for us in this matter has been revealed: He sent forth His only beloved Son to the world, so that through Him, we might have eternal life.”<br/><br/>
Jesus' life is "not to be served, but to serve"; therefore, he is willing to redeem our lives with His own life. He expressed the hope that we can live within His life. As he has risen, He is not subject to death. We must follow Jesus, and constantly live in God’s holy will! Jesus said: "No one who sets a hand to the plough should look to what was left behind.”