Justice is a Pious Attention
We talk a lot about the virtue of justice in my circles. Not as in criminal justice―law and order justice―but justice toward people. Justice is giving everyone what’s due to them, given their dignity as a human person.
We talk a lot about the virtue of justice in my circles. Not as in criminal justice―law and order justice―but justice toward people. Justice is giving everyone what’s due to them, given their dignity as a human person.
Given the momentum of the cancel culture, the storm is upon us. It calls to mind the words of Cardinal F. Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan: “The greatest failure in leadership is for the leader to be afraid to speak and act as a leader.” And yet, didn’t Jesus tell us to not be afraid?
It’s hope, not wishful thinking, by which we persevere in pursuit of what we’re seeking. We all “hope” for what we perceive as good things―even though they’re finite: health, career, a great marriage, happy successful kids, financial security. And we endure a lot of pain and suffering in pursuit of them. Need we?
It’s been said that first, we form habits…then they form us. Conquer your bad habits, or they’ll eventually conquer you. As we begin another new year, for many it also brings new resolutions. I don’t know about you, but I still haven’t tackled last year’s resolutions!
As we come together (either physically or “in spirit”) to celebrate the Incarnation of our Lord (aka Christmas), we also close out what we can all agree has been an exceptionally challenging year. Further, many of us look to 2021 with either hope or great uncertainty…most likely a little bit of both. The celebration of Christmas, even in these uniquely challenging times, still brings to mind the classical imagery of the Nativity. This includes the three wise men being led to the birthplace of Jesus by the Star of Bethlehem…a singular bright light in an ocean of darkness.
The Divided Life is the split between faith and daily business practice, leading to imbalances and misplaced devotion to worldly success. It is dominated by self-interest, with no real action on loving and serving God, or the common good. Candidly, we are ALL divided to one degree or another. This is the result of our pride, our concupiscence, our selfishness.
Of the fire fighters to lose their lives in New York City on September 11, 2001, Father Mychal Judge was among the first. As NYFD Chaplain, he was known to begin each day began with, “Lord, take me where you want me to go. Let me meet who you want me to meet.” We can only presume that he recited that same prayer on that fateful morning. The Lord guided him, and Fr. Judge followed…into eternity.
These are challenging times we live in. And yet, much of the fear and anxiety we experience as we go through life comes from the inside – not the outside.
Do you know any self-proclaimed perfectionists who, because of their unrealistically high standards, remain stagnant? Pride often gets in our way when we expect to be able to do things “perfectly” on our own. God doesn’t want us to do that. He wants us to seek out His help.
This is a very troubling time in our country. It’s an election year and there are some serious divides between citizens. Heels are dug in so deep, that many of us are unable to even talk to one another. I’m imagining two vast armies amassed on opposite sides of a very wide and deep river.