Many people these days speak about the negative aspect . . . of things.  Or they speak of certain influences as being negative in character.  This is not a misuse of the word negative, because it does imply subtraction . . . All those things that detract from life, all those things that subtract from its fullness or goodness can be called negative.
           
The most negative thing there is is sin.  There is no doubt about that at all.  Sin not only is disobedience to God; it is not only something wicked and undesirable. It negates God’s creative intention. It subtracts from reality something God intended to be there.  It damages creation by blocking it.  It inhibits the development and growth that God wanted.  It damages the order and harmony of God’s whole plan.  All the negative elements in the universe—suffering, destruction, tragedies, and death—come from sin.  Untruth, uncertainty, insecurity, and perplexity, indecision and doubt, all come from sin.  They are all negative.  They all subtract something good from creation.  Guilt is not the only effect of sin.  Real damage results from it. . .

If we take a good look at all the undesirable factors in our own lives and all the sins in the world and all the sufferings and evils in the world . . . it might prove depressing and discouraging.  And since both depression and discouragement are negative themselves and harmful, one might be tempted to suggest that Christians should not look at the evil in the world but shut themselves off from it and think of nothing but the good things in life.  Of course there are still ostriches in the world, but we have not got the gifts that ostriches are alleged to have, and we cannot shut our eyes to the tragedies and evils around us and within us, even if we want to.  It is, therefore, necessary for us to be able to face up to the situation as it is and yet somehow or other see it all in such a way that it is neither depressing nor discouraging nor perplexing.  To do this we do not accept the positions of those who either say that suffering is an illusion or that our existence is an illusion or that the way to peace is through a form of oblivion or anything like that.  No.  The answer we have is Our Lord Jesus Christ. . .

The Catholic, living by God’s own will in this world, living by faith, utterly repudiates all that could be negative in his own conduct, thought, and outlook.  He does not deny that he sometimes sins.  He does not deny that he sometimes suffers.  He does not deny that the evils in the world and the sufferings of others exist and elicit deep compassion, but the faithful Catholic knows that through Christ all the negative elements in life can be turned into positive, life-increasing sacrifices to God for the benefit of himself and mankind.  He knows that there was not anything negative in Jesus’ life, not even in His death, and certainly not in His resurrection.  The Cross itself, which looked at with natural eyes is completely negative, for it kills the Author of life, is for the eyes of faith the most positive force for good that there ever was.  It produces the resurrection of all the faithful . . . A Christian acceptance of trials, troubles, and sufferings, which of themselves are negative and destructive, makes them sources of greater, fuller, and everlasting life.

God created the world without any negative elements in it.  He saw what He had made, and it was very good.  It was a very beautiful world in itself and in His sight.  It was beautiful for God, but we, by sin, have made many aspects and elements of the world ugly.  There are things now in our world, and even in our own lives, which God finds repugnant and negative and ugly. . . But we can make this world beautiful for God . . . even while evil still exists.  The Christian, with the life of Christ in him, and living in his daily life the Sacrifice of the Mass, which he offers weekly or more often, joins with Christ in making what of itself is ugly and destructive and even hideous, something beautiful for God and good for man. . .

Let us take an example or two.  Supposing someone insults you or says something unkind or hurtful to you, especially if it is entirely unjust.  That is an ugly thing he does.  The situation is negative; he has done evil and you are upset.  This does not give glory to God and does not look beautiful to Him, but how beautiful you make the whole thing for God if you accept the insult as Jesus did and give a kind response and pray for the man who hurt you.  What great good you have produced out of evil by the grace of Christ!

Supposing you are unkind to someone and hurt him.  That is something negative you have brought about, an ugliness before God and man, but you can make it beautiful by being sorry, by a really sincere and humble apology, and by extra kindness to the person you have hurt.  Love covers a multitude of sins.  Jesus’ love covers all the sins of the whole world.  Love uses evil it cannot avoid to produce something beautiful for God, something virtuous and holy.

Let us drop all negatives and, full of faith, trusting in God’s grace alone, do all we can to make this world, and especially our part of it, beautiful for God.  There is great joy and peace and union with Our Lord Jesus Christ waiting for us if we will only echo His yes to God, and by our attitude of pure-hearted offering and sacrifice, overcome with good all the evil that touches us, through Jesus Christ Our Lord.

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