Goodness of God - Bp. Donald Sanborn

SummaryBishop Sanborn refutes the common claim that God cannot be good because evil exists in the world. He explains that God is goodness itself, infinite in perfection, and that creation—including mankind—was made to share in this divine goodness. Despite man’s sin and rebellion, God remains constant in His generosity, mercy, and care.His Excellency highlights Christ's miracle of feeding the multitude, not just as a physical act of compassion, but as a sign of God's unceasing providence and spiritual nourishment. He emphasizes that God owes us nothing, yet He gives us everything: life, sustenance, truth, grace, and the offer of eternal salvation.Evil and suffering are the result of sin, not of divine malice. God permits these trials not out of cruelty, but to draw greater good, to purify souls, and to allow man the freedom to choose love and obedience over rebellion.Key PointsGod is goodness itself: He lacks nothing and is the source of all good.Creation is an act of generosity: God created man and the world to share His goodness.God provides both body and soul: As Christ preached and fed the crowd, God still feeds us with truth and sacraments.Evil is not God's doing: It results from man's misuse of free will.God remains good even in suffering: He uses trials for our purification and salvation.We must trust God's providence: Even if suffering remains, He knows what is best for each soul.Closing ReflectionBishop Sanborn urges the faithful to contemplate God’s unchanging and infinite goodness, not with worldly expectations, but with humble gratitude and supernatural faith. We are called to accept His gifts, both consoling and painful, as means to eternal life.