The Clam’s thoughts on the Southern California wildfires
Kasia October 28th, 2007
Deo gratias that, as far as I’ve heard, there has been a minimum of human life lost in the California wildfires. And Deo gratias in particular that Stephanie and her family are all right, and that our friends at Catholic Answers seem to be all right as well.
Stephanie put up a post about folks who have been speculating about whether the wildfires were divine retribution for the general moral decay in California, and/or some specific legislation that was recently passed there. And then yesterday at the Women’s Conference, the reading at Mass hit me hard about that. I thought, “I have to post on this. Even if I don’t get to post anything else this weekend, I have to touch on this.”
At that time some people who were present there told him [Jesus] about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. He said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them – do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” (Luke 13:1-5)
The reading went on to the parable of the barren fig tree (through verse 9, if you’re keeping track at home). Now, the Clam is not a Biblical scholar by any means. In fact, I recently realized that my B.A. in political science is essentially a bachelor’s in putting my faith in princes. I’ve got a long way to go on Scripture and theology. But…
It looks to me like Our Lord is really trying to hammer home to the people he’s talking to that just because bad things happen, doesn’t mean the person they happen to is a bigger sinner than anyone else. And that’s borne out elsewhere in the Scriptures as well, of course: look at Job. Heavens, look at Jesus Himself! He was betrayed by a trusted friend, beaten, humiliated, and after all that suffered a horrific death. And He was sinless!
I expect there is a lot more to this Scripture than I’m getting out of it. But ultimately it comes down to this for me: I know I’m a big sinner. We all are, of course, but it’s my sins I know most intimately, and I can assure you that I’m a heck of a long way from holiness. I have trouble believing that the folks out in California who lost their homes are bigger sinners than I am. Certainly they can’t all be.
So rather than an opportunity to say “See?! See?! God’s taking revenge on California,” I think this is an opportunity for me to remember that I need to repent. It’s as an opportunity to remember that storing up treasures on earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt and thieves break in and steal (and fires destroy), should not be my goal. Because all this will pass away, but the Lord is eternal.
OK, I know. Pollyanna. I’ll shut up now. :-p
It’s past my bedtime, so no chance here to talk about the wonderful time I had at the Women’s Conference, or how I met one of my favorite bloggers IN PERSON (how exciting is that?), or anything else. Hopefully I’ll have a chance tomorrow to talk about those things…
I also hope that all the people otherwise affected by the fire, through smoke inhalation, evacutaion and otherwise, also get all the help that they need, both now and after, to rebuild their lives and regain their health. California economy is certainly going to be changed for the worst for a while.
May we all come to the aid of our brothers and sisters in their time of need. No one lives in a bubble.
If I could, I would send their state the frost that covers my car in the morning….
Our priest at Mass made it a point to raise the same thing you did — namely that simply because the wild fires are here, does not mean that the people who are enduring them are greater sinners than those who are not currently being afflicted by the fires.
So kudos on your post!!