A lot of us say something like this when we pray “it is because of God’s love that we are alive today, many people died this morning”. I’ve always found this weird because it goes against something at the center of our Christian faith.

Luke 13:1-5

1 At that time some people who were present there told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate^* had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. 2 He said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?^a 3 By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent,^b you will all perish as they did! 4 Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them^*—do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? 5 By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!”

Wisdom 3:1-9
The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. For if to others, indeed, they seem punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. In the time of their judgment they shall shine and dart about as sparks through stubble; they shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the LORD shall be their King forever. Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love: Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with the elect.

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