Holy Covenant,

Why do bad things happen? It’s a question we wrestle with, again and again, especially when tragedy strikes or when life doesn’t go the way we hoped it to. When we face hardship, personal loss, illness, or injustice, our minds naturally search for meaning. We want to know why. Is this part of God’s plan? Did we do something wrong? Is suffering a punishment?

These are questions people of faith have wrestled with for centuries, and they are the same questions that people confronted in Jesus’ time.

This Sunday, we’ll turn to Luke 13:1-9, where Jesus is confronted with this very question. People come to him, troubled by recent tragedies. Some assume that suffering is the result of sin, that those who experience hardship must have done something to deserve it. But Jesus challenges this way of thinking. He refuses to blame the victims or offer simple explanations.

So how do we make sense of suffering? And more importantly, how do we respond? If you’ve ever asked, “Why is this happening to me?” or struggled to make sense of life’s hardships, this sermon is for you. I invite you to join us this Sunday as we explore these difficult questions together.

Peace and Blessings,

Rev. Christopher Czarnecki

Holy Covenant UCC

Senior Pastor