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Dear Father Angelo,
good evening. I would like to ask you a question: in light of the latest events, I would like to know if God will protect those who will still have faith in Him.
A thousand thanks.
Massimo
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The Priest answer
Dear Massimo,
- Why shouldn’t He protect those who place their trust in Him?
What reasons do we have to doubt it?
Why would God not save those who believe in Him as a result of others’ sins and corruption?
- It is true that Jesus said: “But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18,8).
With this, our Lord does not say that there will be no more faith, but that few will keep it.
Talking about the end of the world Jesus have said: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man: they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage up to the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Similarly, as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building; on the day when Lot left Sodom, fire and brimstone rained from the sky to destroy them all. (…) . I tell you, on that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. And there will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken, the other left.” (Luke 17, 26-30-34-35).
But because Jesus said that: “I tell you, on that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. And there will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken, the other left” (Luke 18, 35) is inferred that there will be faith left, even though it will cool down in the hearts of many.
- But this, it will not be a reason for not protecting the righteous ones.
In the book of the prophet Ezekiel we read in fact: “But, in turn, if he begets a son who sees all the sins his father commits, yet fears and does not imitate him, (…), or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile a neighbor’s wife; who does not oppress anyone, or exact a pledge, or commit robbery; who gives his food to the hungry and clothes the naked; who refrains from evildoing, accepts no interest or usury, but keeps my ordinances and walks in my statutes–this one shall not die for the sins of his father. He shall surely live! Only the father, since he committed extortion and robbed his brother, and did what was not good among his people–he will die because of his sin! (Ez 18,14-18).
And, also: “The son shall not be charged with the guilt of his father, nor shall the father be charged with the guilt of his son. Justice belongs to the just, and wickedness to the wicked” (Ez 18,20).
“Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, all of you according to your ways–oracle of the Lord God” (Ez 18,30).
- Finally, it must be remembered that whatever faith is not enough. It is necessary to
have a living faith, and that is, accompanied by action.
Saint James says: “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well, “but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?
So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2,14-17).
And: “You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble” (James 2,19).
In other words, it is necessary to be in grace.
Wishing you the very best, I bless you and remember you in my prayers,
Father Angelo
