Finding true justice

Good News Reflection
Tuesday of the 23rd Week of Ordinary Time
September 7, 2010

Today' Saint: Cloud
Pray for all those displaced from their careers:
http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/index.html?Cloud.htm

Today's Readings:
1 Cor 6:1-11
Ps 149:1b-6a, 9b
Luke 6:12-19
http://www.usccb.org/nab/090710.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_09_07.mp3

Finding true justice

Since the beginning of civilization, God has given earthly leaders a portion of his authority to establish law and order and to determine how disagreements and injustices should be handled, even while knowing they would mishandle this authority. Saint Paul informs us in today's first reading that we should not rely on those who judge by worldly standards when deciding cases for those who want to live by God's heavenly standards.

God-inspired judgments always include mercy and forgiveness, reconciliation, humility, honoring the needs of others, selflessness, and unconditional love. Civil law, in contrast, provides retaliation. If I fall down at your house and break my leg, I can make you pay my hospital bill. In fact, civil law in my country allows me to sue you for the cost of the emotional suffering that began when my happy plans got ruined because of the cast on my leg – as if we could put a price tag on that!

God's laws are contrary to this worldly way of meting out justice. His law dictates that I forgive you and make no financial demands on you, even letting myself get cheated (as Jesus said, turning the other cheek). God's justice means I let HIM take charge of my hospital bill. If you decide to help me, it's not because I've forced it upon you – it's because you're doing God's work.

Note that Paul is instructing the Christian community on how to solve internal injustices by converting problems into loving solutions. He is not suggesting that this is how a Christian resolves a problem with a non-Christian. It's not a sin to deal with non-Christians using the laws of society. But what a horror it is for Christian brothers and sisters to treat each other in worldly ways! Love gets pushed aside.

The difference is that Christians have already been justified by Jesus Christ. Plus, we have received the Holy Spirit and are therefore capable of making right judgments for resolving disagreements and injustices. Because of this, we can even judge the deeds of angels! And what do angels do that necessitate judgment from us? Well, the holy angels do nothing that we need to sit in judgment over, but the fallen angels – demons – daily create problems that require us to judge their activities and sentence them to the imprisonment of silence and inactivity.

What a horror it is when Christians make judgments without the Holy Spirit – fallen angels are free to make matters worse!

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus cured people who were troubled by evil spirits. He pronounced judgments against their interference and decided that they should stop what they were doing. He has given us the authority to do the same. As long as we're living by heavenly standards, we can, in the name of Jesus and by the power of the triumph of his cross, take a successful stand against evil. Demons must submit to our authority, for it is Jesus who enforces the sentence.

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
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