This weekend's gospel gives us stories of Jesus healing others as a response to evil. He moves to heal the sick and cure those suffering immediately upon hearing of this news. Every priest should remember this when called—whether at 2 a.m. or 3 p.m. to visit a hospital room or anoint a dying parishioner at home—go immediately, for the mission of Christ was to restore health to the suffering as it happened, even if it requires us to break the rituals or upset schedules.

Today's readings might ask us to consider why humans, who hear of Christ's mission of healing and eliminating evil with goodness, always blame God for the evil in the world: South Carolina, Manhattan, or Texas—where was God? Why did He allow this to happen? We know God does not cause evil, but rather that He so loves our freedom that when the human heart chooses evil He does not counter it by taking our freedom away, but rather does all He can to call us back to His Goodness. So what do we think of "evil when it happens to the innocent?" Again, we know that God does not create evil, but we will never know in this life the fullness of the reason for evil and of evil's power, as it lies hidden in the recesses of our fallen human nature. What we do know is this, God is all about Goodness; and He has assured us of two things: He does not create evil and does everything in His power to eliminate it, including calling us to be His cooperators in goodness in our life. Let us ask God for the heavenly wisdom to choose good in our lives and the courage to follow Him.