Love is the greatest justice

Commandments are not just about the negation of of the commission of evil acts. It’s neither just a mere prohibition of evil things. Commandments are meant to direct us to follow a road to God, to direct us to a new consciousness, and a new way of life.

Thou shall not kill -is not just the condemnation and prohibition of the act of killing but a formation of the consciousness and love for life and everything life stands for. Our first reading presents it beautifully, “Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?” Something is not right with the way of thinking and perspective of Ezekiel and the people, and he wants to demonstrate his desire that their mentality be conformed to his and assume a new consciousness, a new perspective and a new heart.

Commandments are just articulations and promulgations of the protection of life, and of the promotion of the dignity of human life. They are necessary to uproot from within everything which, in one way or another, can lead to murder, for example, anger, hatred, the desire to revenge, insult, and exploitation, etc. Although these are mere feelings, they kill the grace in us especially when we cling on them.

The acts that the Law prohibits begin as interior movements of the heart. That being the case, hatred, anger, insult, exploitation and vindictiveness have no place in the Kingdom of God. Our ability to forgive and live in peace with those who persecute us is the most sublime form of justice and the most indispensable act of being perfect as the heavenly father. Forgiveness and the avoidance of hatred and the minimizing of anger makes us like Christ who is perfect, holy and pleasing to the Father. The best way to counter the prohibited acts leading to crime is the purity of heart.

Forgiveness is hard. I myself am struggling on this area of christian value. I feel that some injustice had been done to me or to someone I love that I am taking the fault really seriously. For me, justice is when I cling to the grudge and hold it on for the longest time possible until time and circumstances heal. As they say: “Time heals.”

But we are invited today to repair broken relationships and set aside our sense of being victims. We love to act and consider ourselves victims to injustice by people because it would save us from further victimization and because it is a good excuse for engagement into dialogues. However, our Gospel for today exhorts that genuine justice is achieved only when there is peace in our minds and when relationships are restored.

Refusing to forgive blocks the movement of God in our lives (Barron). It blocks grace. It obscures wisdom. It upsets the heart and it stresses the human body. It counters love which is the greatest form of justice.

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Thus says the Lord GOD: If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed,    if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just,    he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him;    he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced. Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked?    says the Lord GOD. Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way    that he may live? And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil,    the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does,    can he do this and still live? None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered,    because he has broken faith and committed sin;    because of this, he shall die. You say, “The LORD’s way is not fair!” Hear now, house of Israel:    Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair? When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies,    it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die. But if the wicked, turning from the wickedness he has committed,    does what is right and just,    he shall preserve his life;    since he has turned away from all the sins that he committed,    he shall surely live, he shall not die.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8

R. (3) If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?

Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;    LORD, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive    to my voice in supplication. R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand? If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,    LORD, who can stand? But with you is forgiveness,    that you may be revered. R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand? I trust in the LORD;    my soul trusts in his word. My soul waits for the LORD    more than sentinels wait for the dawn. Let Israel wait for the LORD. R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand? For with the LORD is kindness    and with him is plenteous redemption; And he will redeem Israel    from all their iniquities. R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?

GOSPEL Mt 5:20-26

Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you,     unless your righteousness surpasses that    of the scribes and Pharisees,    you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven. “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother    will be liable to judgment,    and whoever says to his brother, Raqa,    will be answerable to the Sanhedrin,    and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,    and there recall that your brother    has anything against you,    leave your gift there at the altar,    go first and be reconciled with your brother,    and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,    and the judge will hand you over to the guard,    and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you,    you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”