Tuesday, August 11, 2009

19th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 12.08.09

1st Reading: Deut 34:1-12
Gospel: Mt 18:15-20

At the top of the facade of the Supreme Court, there is this figure of a blind-fold woman.

She holds a weighing scale in one hand, and a sword in the other hand.

That is the representation of legal justice: the evidence is presented and weighed, the verdict is unbiased, or should be unbiased, and finally the sentence is sharp and precise.

Legal justice can be seen as very objective, yet it is also seen as non-negotiable, as stoic even.

In the Gospel, Jesus seems to be initially appealing to this type of legal justice when it comes to settling matters of transgression and correction.

But yet Jesus moves on to say that justice is not just an earthly affair, but it is also a heavenly affair.

He says that when we gather to ask for anything, it will be granted.

When we had been wronged, it is only natural to ask for justice.

Yet Jesus is also asking from us, the wronged party, for mercy and compassion, which goes hand-in-hand with the justice of God.

Jesus Himself showed it, because when nailed to the cross, He said, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing."