Thought for the week

JUSTICE is an important human value. It deters the powerful, comforts the weak and strengthens societies and makes them progressive. Justice can be achieved when we are freed from passions and partialities.

St James writes: “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. (James 4: 1&2). Justice is much better than superficial acts of worship. The book of Proverbs asserts: “To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than acts of ritual sacrifice” (Proverbs 21: 3).

The wise person shouldn’t find a contradiction between the virtues of mercy and Justice. Mercy combined with Justice results in integrity. Let me whisper in your ear some practical advice. Don’t judge anyone or any action unless you have been placed in a position of responsibility to do so as a parent, teacher, officer, judge or superior and are in a position to make a thorough examination of all the circumstances that lead to the action you are judging. It is much better to correct and advise than to punish for those who exercise Judgment without mercy will receive no mercy themselves. (James 2v13) Finally, fight the corner of the weak, the despised and the less advantaged. Be a voice for the voiceless. Fight for Justice in your land because it is of great importance to God and he depends on you to deliver it. As He declares in the Book of Amos (5v24) “Do you know what I want? I want Justice – oceans of it. I want fairness – rivers of it. That’s what I want. That’s all I want.” Father John Saleed