Batangas Without Taal, Albay Without Mayon?

Why did God not create a world without earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, typhoons and other natural calamities?

1. With His infinite power, God could always create something better yet He freely created a world “in a state of journeying,” a world in a state of becoming.

2. “In God’s plan this process of becoming involves the appearance of certain things and the disappearance of others, the existence of the more perfect alongside the less perfect, both constructive and destructive forces of nature.” (CCC, 310).

3. As the Creator of all things like Taal, Mayon volcano, earthquakes etc., God does not will or desire in itself as an end the suffering, illness or death of people that these natural phenomena might have caused.

4. In His providence, God permits volcanoes to erupt, typhoons, earthquakes and other natural calamities to occur as “means” to a higher end e.g. to tell people to get out of danger zones, to remind all of us to call upon Him, to encourage all of us to take care of our environment and help one another. These, among others, are some of the good things that God can draw from us and from the natural calamities He permits to happen.

5. God is the master of everything. But, to carry out His divine plan, He makes use of us, human beings. He allows us to share or participate in His providence. We have therefore the personal as well as social responsibility to take good care of ourselves, others and our environment. -Fr Joey Gonzaga