While celebrating with friends on the evening of Martin Luther King Day, the conversation revolved for a while on justice. One person expressed her dismay that when the word is used she wonders, "Whose justice is it?"
That is a useful question, the answer to which may be as numerous as the speakers. Martin Luther King was clear that God's justice is the justice which eases burdens, affords hope and transforms the world. Humans are reluctant to surrender to God, let alone God's justice. Surrendering to God's justice means scrutinizing one's ways of operating.
We are tempted to proceed as children: it's fair or unfair; to operate as if all things are either contrast as sharply as the colors black and white. God embraces us especially when we blur categories or mar our or others' reputations. The Jesuits of the California Province have a great e-resource, Making Ethical Decisions. It is worth revisiting it because most human decisions must choose proportionally, not equally or even 100% one way or another. God's justice is the model and goal of all human decision making.
Photo's author New York World-Telegram and the Sun, which released into the public domain worldwide
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