THE MEANING OF JUSTIFICATION BY GRACE

20150615 THE MEANING OF JUSTIFICATION BY GRACE

Readings at Mass

First reading

2 Corinthians 6:1-10 ©

As his fellow workers, we beg you once again not to neglect the grace of God that you have received. For he says: At the favourable time, I have listened to you; on the day of salvation I came to your help. Well, now is the favourable time; this is the day of salvation.

  We do nothing that people might object to, so as not to bring discredit on our function as God’s servants. Instead, we prove we are servants of God by great fortitude in times of suffering: in times of hardship and distress; when we are flogged, or sent to prison, or mobbed; labouring, sleepless, starving. We prove we are God’s servants by our purity, knowledge, patience and kindness; by a spirit of holiness, by a love free from affectation; by the word of truth and by the power of God; by being armed with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left, prepared for honour or disgrace, for blame or praise; taken for impostors while we are genuine; obscure yet famous; said to be dying and here are we alive; rumoured to be executed before we are sentenced; thought most miserable and yet we are always rejoicing; taken for paupers though we make others rich, for people having nothing though we have everything.

Psalm

Psalm 97:1-4 ©

The Lord has made known his salvation.

Sing a new song to the Lord

  for he has worked wonders.

His right hand and his holy arm

  have brought salvation.

The Lord has made known his salvation.

The Lord has made known his salvation;

  has shown his justice to the nations.

He has remembered his truth and love

  for the house of Israel.

The Lord has made known his salvation.

All the ends of the earth have seen

  the salvation of our God.

Shout to the Lord, all the earth,

  ring out your joy.

The Lord has made known his salvation.

Gospel Acclamation

Jn14:23

Alleluia, alleluia!

If anyone loves me he will keep my word,

and my Father will love him,

and we shall come to him.

Alleluia!

Or

Ps118:105

Alleluia, alleluia!

Your word is a lamp for my steps

and a light for my path.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Matthew 5:38-42 ©

Jesus said, ‘You have learnt how it was said: Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. But I say this to you: offer the wicked man no resistance. On the contrary, if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other as well; if a man takes you to law and would have your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone orders you to go one mile, go two miles with him. Give to anyone who asks, and if anyone wants to borrow, do not turn away.’

THE MEANING OF JUSTIFICATION BY GRACE

SCRIPTURE READINGS: 2 CORINTHIANS 6:1-10; MATTHEW 5:38-42

What do we do in the face of injustice?  Injustice is something that every man wants to seek redress for.  It is only right that we seek justice.  But what is justice?

In today’s gospel, Jesus teaches us that justice is different from revenge and retaliation.  To seek revenge is not justice because it will only bring greater injustice.  The truth is that the principle of revenge, that is, “an eye for eye and tooth for tooth” will only result in more harm than the harm that has already been caused. As Ghandi says, “an eye for an eye makes the whole world goes blind!” Such is the justice of the world.   Revenge will only result in counter revenge.  It will not end the vicious cycle of violence.  That is why the Church is against capital punishment for it does not rectify a wrongful situation.  It only causes more suffering to everyone at the end of the day.

The only way to resolve differences is to forgive and to start all over again.  That is why justice in the bible is not the same as legal justice.  In biblical understanding, justice is the restoration of all relationships.  It is to make right what is wrong and not to cause further wrong and injury. Justice means to make things right.  Hence, Jesus advised, “If anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other as well; if a man takes you to law and would have your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.  And if anyone orders you to go one mile, go two miles with him.  Give to anyone who asks, and if anyone wants to borrow, do not turn away.”

How can that help to right a wrong? Does it not seem that we are allowing the unjust to perpetuate their crimes?  Why should we allow others to take advantage of us?  Not necessarily so!  This is because love is stronger than hatred, generosity is stronger than greed and selfishness, and light is greater than darkness.  That is the secret of St Francis of Assisi as well when he composed the prayer, “Make me a channel of your peace.”  When we love a person, even the stingiest person will become generous because he will be converted by our love.

Yes, this is the way of Christ, the way of grace versus the way of the laws.  To be justified by grace simply means that we are forgiven by Christ.  We are loved and forgiven without any conditions.  He makes right what is wrong.  He did not take revenge on us.  Rather, He wins us over with His love.  In this way, we are made right with God, that is, reconciled with Him.  When we are forgiven and loved in such a manner, the response is always one of gratitude and conversion in life.  Indeed, Jesus transforms the law to mercy, grace and loving kindness. Not only do we not retaliate, but we also respond with kindness for evil.

Does it mean then that we suffer as helpless victims in the face of injustice?  Isn’t that cowardice?  Aren’t we making ourselves martyrs?  Aren’t we perpetuating evil in the world? If we see ourselves as victims in such a situation, then we have misunderstood the whole principle of grace.  Was Jesus a victim?  Certainly not!  We are told He went to the cross freely.  So we are victims only when we resist or are reluctant.  In fact, in such a situation, the failure to act is for selfish reasons and not out of magnanimity.

The underlying principle lies in the question of motive.  Are we giving in to our enemies in order to serve the Kingdom or ourselves?  If we give ourselves willingly to our opponents, not out of fear but because we believe that by being magnanimous we will win them over, then we need not behave as if we are victims of our oppressors like the way Jesus stood before Pilate at His trial.  When we give in so that we can win our enemies over, then such sacrificial suffering is certainly not escapism, for the intended goal is to bring unity and the conversion of the sinner.

Of course, at times when cruelty is horrendous, the Church permits us to act to defend our interests or the interests of the innocent within justifiable limits.  But we must be clear that if justice is carried out, it must be for the good of everyone including our oppressors.  For true justice brings restoration of all relationships, not just the rights of the oppressed.   

Consequently, today, let us make the Prayer of St Francis ours, since this is the concrete spelling out of Jesus’ exhortations in today’s gospel.  “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love;  when there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand, to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying [to ourselves] that we are born to eternal life.”

But to be able to be as convinced as St Francis, we too must contemplate on the face of Christ, His mercy and love.  Only when we have contemplated the cross of Jesus Christ can we then be freed from hatred, revenge, resentment and be given the strength to return good for evil. Following the way of Christ, the way of grace and restoring harmony is the way to conquer evil in the world.

Written by The Most Rev William Goh

Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore

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