Are you suffering because you sinned?

It's possible - you may be in jail because you were drunk driving, or have a broken leg because you tripped over a fence while stealing a TV.

But is God raining down awful things on you because you did wrong?

This question comes to mind as we contemplate our Gospel for Sunday, which deals with the eternal questions of bad things happening to good people. Does God torture to teach? Has God purposely created punishment to keep us in line?

No. Never.

God's default setting is not condemnation and punishment, it's forgiveness and grace -

And when we refuse that, choosing to move away from the source of light and life, guess what's left?

Darkness and death.

So when we do bad, as hard as it is to work through the shame and embarrassment, move toward the light, make things right, don't keep moving towards the darkness.

That wonderful, pure heart of yours was made to bring God's light, keep it burning by embracing humility, getting over your mistakes, not burying them.