If God is love, why did He allow a Priest who’s preaching about love dies in front of a congregation who expects God’s love?

Father Gaston Hurtubise fell on his face and died on stage while preaching about the love of Jesus at the Ottawa Civic Centre, Canada, during a Charismatic Congress on June 26, 1992.

Denyoz who was right there sitting in the fifth row with his parents had witnessed the incident, who thought this as so boring considering that it was a charismatic congress, and rummaged around for his charisma, who’s togged up in Jesus costume but here he is surrounded by people whom he preached with to rescue him.[1]  

Why did God allow such a terror when in fact the Priest was there to proclaim His love and mercy but where are His mercy and love if the one who preaches these values is the one who could not get hold of it?  Why did He not just take another day to take His life instead of this day where influx of people expect to hear more and absorb further from his messages?

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Why does God allow bad things to happen amidst good intention?

Try to reflect on this: If God (keep in mind that Jesus is God) allowed His own mother to suffer, why not us? God, being God, could have prevented the Blessed Mother from anguish, but He didn’t. She came into contact with one of the most unbearable pains that a mother could endure - the death of her Child, on Good Friday. Why did God permit this to take place? If He was going to stop anyone from torment it would have been the Blessed Mother's. But He didn't. Why not?

There is meaning in suffering although humans may not fully fathom its significance during her/his lifetime. Undergoing pain and seeing our loved ones suffer can be devastating. One’s suffering could be physical, spiritual, psychological, or financial. It can be so difficult and bloodcurdling for a loved one being left with the feeling to be hopeless.

No matter what kind of suffering it may be, everybody will all hurt during her/his lifetime. The Blessed Mother suffered dreadfully, and, like Jesus, she had faith in God's plan and took her cross. She had laid down her arms to the will of God, and trusted in Him unreservedly.

No one could insist her/his own thinking into a situation that looks mysterious by questioning God and pointing finger at Him, as God says: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9).  Instead of blaming God as if He’s the culprit, why not a question like, “What causes his death?” Can it be possible that the evil spirit uses this circumstance to put others' faith to waver, as the serpent has been known for his cunning lies when he says to Eve, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’? But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die (Genesis  3:1,4).

Affliction takes us back on the reality that everyone needs God greatly, and frequently on top of things. It jogs to everyone’s memory how humans need devotion to God, more attention, love Him, and love one another more. It prompts that everybody needs to forgive more, pray more, listen more, talk less and be really present in each others’ lives. Misfortune can make humans to be more compassionate and caring with others, with a greater capacity to love, not through money but by spending time just like how Fr. Gaston Hurtubise had sucessfully made even up to his last breath.

What is impressive about Fr. Gaston Hurtubise is his zeal to incessantly proclaim God’s love and gratefulness of Him, telling the congregation: “‘God is ready to open His heart to us, to establish us in Him, to eternal bliss. Thank you Lord!”  Is it not nice witnessing a priest who did not quit of being appreciative of God’s love? 

Meeting his death in a seemingly awkward situation does not emphasize that God is cruel but simply an indication that spending time and sincerest efforts to share God’s love have no boundaries, whether in sickness or in health, in solace or in discomfort, Amen!