20171118
FAITH IN SEEKING THE JUSTICE OF GOD
Readings
at Mass
Liturgical
Colour: Green.
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First reading
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Wisdom 18:14-16,19:6-9 ©
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When peaceful silence lay over all,
and night had run the half of her swift course,
down from the heavens, from the royal throne, leapt your
all-powerful Word;
into the heart of a doomed land the stern warrior leapt.
Carrying your unambiguous command like a sharp sword,
he stood, and filled the universe with death;
he touched the sky, yet trod the earth.
For, to keep your children from all harm,
The whole creation, obedient to your commands,
was once more, and newly, fashioned in its nature.
Overshadowing the camp there was the cloud,
where water had been, dry land was seen to rise,
the Red Sea became an unimpeded way,
the tempestuous flood a green plain;
sheltered by your hand, the whole nation passed across,
gazing at these amazing miracles.
They were like horses at pasture,
they skipped like lambs,
singing your praises, Lord, their deliverer.
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Responsorial Psalm
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Psalm 104(105):2-3,36-37,42-43 ©
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Remember the wonders the Lord has done.
or
Alleluia!
O sing to him, sing his praise;
tell all his wonderful works!
Be proud of his holy name,
let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice.
Remember the wonders the Lord has done.
or
Alleluia!
He struck all the first-born in their land,
the finest flower of their sons.
He led out Israel with silver and gold.
In his tribes were none who fell behind.
Remember the wonders the Lord has done.
or
Alleluia!
For he remembered his holy word,
which he gave to Abraham his servant.
So he brought out his people with joy,
his chosen ones with shouts of rejoicing.
Remember the wonders the Lord has done.
or
Alleluia!
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Gospel Acclamation
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Jm1:21
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Alleluia, alleluia!
Accept and submit to the word
which has been planted in you
and can save your souls.
Alleluia!
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Or
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cf.2Th2:14
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Alleluia, alleluia!
Through the Good News God called us
to share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Alleluia!
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Gospel
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Luke 18:1-8 ©
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Jesus told his disciples a parable about the need to pray
continually and never lose heart. ‘There was a judge in a certain town’ he said
‘who had neither fear of God nor respect for man. In the same town there was a
widow who kept on coming to him and saying, “I want justice from you against my
enemy!” For a long time he refused, but at last he said to himself, “Maybe I
have neither fear of God nor respect for man, but since she keeps pestering me
I must give this widow her just rights, or she will persist in coming and worry
me to death.”’
And the Lord
said ‘You notice what the unjust judge has to say? Now will not God see justice
done to his chosen who cry to him day and night even when he delays to help
them? I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily. But
when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’
FAITH IN SEEKING THE JUSTICE OF GOD
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ Wis 18:14-16; 19:6-9; Ps 105:2-3,36-37,42-43; Lk 18:1-8]
We can easily
identify with the woman in today’s gospel who was seeking justice. This widow went to
the judge and pleaded, “I want justice from you against my enemy!” The
injustice against her must have been grave, considering that in those days
widows and orphans were the most vulnerable of all peoples. They had no
security and place in society. They were often taken advantage of and
treated unfairly.
This is
perhaps true for many of us who suffer injustices. Every day, we hear stories
of people getting hurt because of perceived injustices in the way their case is
handled. This can involve financial remuneration, breaking of contracts,
slander, injustice at the work place, discrimination, abuses of all
sorts. Justice is what every person seeks. Without
justice, there can be no love or unity. Resentment will grow and this will
lead to acts of retaliation.
Yet, the
truth is that justice sought is not always found, or appear to have been found. Those who seek
justice often feel that they have not been given the right redress.
Often, both parties cannot agree on what is the just and the right thing.
Mediation is one of the most difficult tasks when there are differences in
opinion on what is a just solution. Everyone is crying foul. At the
end of the day, human justice is hard to come by. No decision, even by
the courts, can fully satisfy those who seek justice, unless the case is so
obvious. The winner will always feel that he has won too little, and the
loser, too much.
Very often
when justice is not rendered fairly, those who have no more options left would
cry out to God for justice, like the widow seeking the help of the judge. We expect that God,
who is fair and just, will intervene to bring justice for us. Alas, often
God too appears to be deaf to our cries, like the judge. He does not
intervene and bring to task the evil, wicked and unjust people. He seems
to be oblivious to what we are going through. As a consequence, we direct
our anger and resentment at God. We feel that God is not fair.
As Jesus
remarked, “But when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on
earth?” Will we continue to have faith in God even when we suffer
injustice? Can we still believe in the justice of God when everything we
experience by human reckoning seems rather unjust? This is the test of
faith. This was the same experience that Jesus went through in His
life. For all the good that He did, He was betrayed, unjustly condemned
as a political prisoner, and put to death on the cross. So too the
apostles and the early Christians went through the same unjust persecutions for
their faith in Christ. Yet, they did not give up faith in
God. On the contrary, they rested their case in God whom they believed to
be just and faithful to them. They did not become resentful or blamed God
for the injustices they suffered. On the contrary, they found it to be a
great privilege to suffer for the injustices of men.
What is the
secret to suffering injustice as a Christian? Firstly, we must never
doubt the justice of God. The first reading from the book of Wisdom speaks of the
sovereignty of God over His creation. “Carrying your unambiguous command
like a sharp sword, he stood, and filled the universe with death; he touched
the sky, yet trod the earth. For, to keep your children from all harm, the
whole creation, obedient to your commands, was once more, and newly, fashioned
in its nature.” God is in control of the whole of creation. Nothing
is outside His providence. He is not a retired architect but He
continues to sustain creation.
Secondly, God
does effect justice on earth, when He determines it fitting. In the responsorial
psalm, we saw how God acted for His people. “Remember the wonders the
Lord has done. O sing to him, sing his praise; tell all his wonderful works! Be
proud of his holy name, let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice. He
struck all the first-born in their land, the finest flower of their sons. He
led out Israel with silver and gold. In his tribes were none who fell behind.
For he remembered his holy word, which he gave to Abraham his servant. So he
brought out his people with joy, his chosen ones with shouts of
rejoicing.” At times, God does act to rescue His people from suffering,
injustices and harm.
Thirdly,
sometimes, in His wisdom, He delays justice, as Jesus tells us. He said, “You notice
what the unjust judge has to say? Now will not God see justice done to his
chosen who cry to him day and night even when he delays to help them? I promise
you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily.” In many
situations, there is a right time for God to intervene. Speedy resolution
does not mean it must happen immediately. God in His wisdom and foresight
knows when to intervene and resolve the situation. When God acts, He acts
decisively to restore the situation. The truth is that in life
situations, we need to ensure that the factors are right before we act.
So what is an apparent delay is actually prudence and wisdom.
It is just like an egg that is about to hatch. If we are impatient and
break the egg before the living creature is properly formed, we will only hurt
it because it will come out deformed. Hence, we need to be patient and
trust that God will act in His own time and at the right time. We
must rely on His wisdom rather than our judgement.
Fourthly,
often justice might not be possible in this world. It could only come in
the next life. St Ambrose wrote, “The Lord allowed death to make its way
into our world so that guilt should come to an end; but lest human nature
should perish by death he ordained the resurrection of the dead. Thus, by
death guilt should have an end, by the resurrection, human nature should endure
for ever. What is death after all but the burial of vice, the flowering
of goodness? Hence, the words of scripture, ‘Let my soul die in the souls
of the just’, that is, let it be buried, with them and so slough off its own
vice and be clothed in the grace of the saints who carry round the
mortification of Christ in their own bodies and souls.”
Indeed, often
judgement comes only at the end of life. The question is, do we trust God
sufficiently to surrender our judgement to Him? How then do we hold fast
to our faith when we suffer unjustly without justice done to us? “For
it is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering
unjustly. If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit
is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s
approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also
suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his
steps. ‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’ When he was
abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he
entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins
in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for
righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Pt 2:19-24)
We are called to follow the way of our Lord who suffered for the conversion of
sinners. It is unjust suffering that can change the hearts of evil
men. When we retaliate, we will only create more hostility.
St Paul
wrote, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble
in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably
with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath
of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’
No, if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them
something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their
heads. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Rom 12:17-21)
Indeed, we must persist in doing good even when we feel there is injustice done
to us, especially by our loved ones and our superiors. We will continue
to love and never give up doing good.
With St
Paul’s words of encouragement, we keep our focus on doing what is right. “Keep your conscience clear,
so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in
Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if
suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. For Christ
also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in
order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in
the spirit.” (1 Pt 3:16-18) “So let us not grow weary in doing
what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.” (Gal 6:9)
God will eventually restore our rights and bring justice either in this world
or in the next. But everything will be done according to His divine
wisdom and plan. So let us never be discouraged but keep on praying for
strength and wisdom to do His holy will.
Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of
Singapore © All Rights Reserved
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