What Kind of God Permits This?

On the Sunday after Nativity, while we bask in the joy of the Nativity, the Church appoints for our hearing the Gospel account of the slaughter of the Holy Innocents.  This outrageous act of wrath and anger moves all who hear of it to great sorrow.  It also often serves as ammunition for those who doubt God or seek to justify not following him, as they ask how a loving God can permit this kind of suffering to be inflicted on innocent children.  And, we too, whether in reading scripture or viewing current events, may struggle with the "fairness" of evil being inflicted on those who fall victim to it.  In today's homily, Abp. Irineos explains that this problem has been examined by the fathers many times, and that while the answer may not satisfy the atheist who challenges God's existence, for those of us who believe, we know where God's justice is found.