20231118 FAITH IN SEEKING THE JUSTICE OF GOD
18 November 2023, Saturday, 32nd Week in Ordinary Time
First reading |
Wisdom 18:14-16,19:6-9 © |
The Red Sea became an unimpeded way
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.
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 104(105):2-3,36-37,42-43 © |
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!
Gospel Acclamation | Jm1:21 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Accept and submit to the word
which has been planted in you
and can save your souls.
Alleluia!
Or: | cf.2Th2:14 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Through the Good News God called us
to share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Luke 18:1-8 © |
The parable of the unjust judge
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 just. 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.”
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? “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 His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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