Freedom to Choose
The gift of freedom given to the first man and woman was meant to draw them closer to God, to each other, and to their destiny.
If God did not give us the ability to choose our own path would Adam and Eve ever have sinned? The answer is an obvious ‘no’ since God would have intervened and kept them from harm. Because he gave them the right to choose, the first humans were seduced by what seem ’good for food, pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom’ (Genesis 3:6) eventually causing much suffering. The process of ‘first choice’ happens with all of us many times throughout our lives. It happens when we take our eyes off God and turn them toward our own desires, asking God to bless our plans and putting ourselves in his place.
Freedom to Love
If love is forced then is it really love? Just as we cannot force someone to fall in love with us, God does not force people to fall in love with him. He gives us our freedom. A true loving relationship comes from a commitment of all parties involved and God wants us to choose to love him. This sincere love can never be found in obligation, intervention, or fear of the other party; these are choices responding to control, not freedom.
Why do we suffer?
Faith certainly recognizes that the world is heavily marked with suffering and grief. Much of the bible is a record of human sorrow. We cannot understand clearly why there is so much evil, or why tragedy falls on some and not others. But Scripture does teach us much about evil and that God does not love human suffering. He does not will it upon us. In giving us freedom he endowed us with sublime dignity: but in doing this he also permitted evil to be done.
Some sight the existence of evil in the world as their reason for denying the very existence of God. Some pressed by sorrows have felt tragically driven towards rebellion against the Lord. Some use the pain they experience or observe as a reason for unbelief. (cf. The Catholic Catechism, Ch. 5)
We know that it is a human reaction to ask “Why?”, to search for meaning and reasons for our suffering. But perhaps we should be asking, “How can I respond? What can we do now?” A profound trust in a compassionate God allows us to ask these questions and then to act, with surprising peace and hope. (cf. The Mystery of Suffering: How should I respond)
Jesus and suffering Luke 22:41-44
Suffering of the innocent Job