Mercy and Justice

Aug 11

5 min read

While reflecting on what maintaining a desire for mercy and justice might mean in these hard times (Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost. Proper 15 [20]. Matthew 15: 21-28.) I stumbled across this wonderful quote: "Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public." Cornel West.

Sentence:

“Thus says the Lord: Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my salvation will come and my deliverance be revealed.” Isaiah 56:1

Collect:

God of all,

We come before you with ears and hearts open

to the challenge and the promise of your word

and ask you to heal what is broken in us and in your world.

Equip us with desire and intention

that justice and mercy may flow

and your kingdom come in our time and this place.

Amen.

Reflection:

There is so much happening in all the readings this week – they are all deep and challenging stories. And themes of justice and mercy run through them all in various ways.

If you are responding to the Genesis story you may want to read this blog.

For a time such as this

And if you are primarily focused on the gospel you may want to read this blog.

A woman of great faith

The words of the prophet Isaiah says that we should have a care, or maintain, justice because anyone – including foreigners – who have attached themselves to the Lord and kept the Sabbath and kept their hands from evil deeds will be accepted! That is, we need to be mindful of the need for justice for all because God is open to all who seek the divine and look to God for good things.

Now talking about justice can seem like a righteous but rather dry topic that is morally admirable but not very passionate or personal. And sometimes Christians talk a lot about love but use such syrupy language that I struggle to recognise myself in their words. If you share this reservation or any ambivalence you too may be excited and impassioned by this quote: “Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public.” (Cornel West, an American theologian). Suddenly Justice has passion behind it and love has a way of being expressed to the stranger with respect and honour and the desire for an abundance of life and love for all! Mercy and justice are an expression of the same love that we have for those we know well and are bound to.

For those of us who have a sense of call to work for social justice many of us are feeling wearied and disheartened at this time as many aspects of life seem to be getting worse not better despite valiant and compassionate work over decades and generations. Rather than justice coming soon it may feel as though justice is forever on the horizon. So where does our inspiration and energy come from?

And this question can be a lens through which to reflect on Jesus’ initial reaction to the Canaanite women and his change of heart. Jesus initially, for reasons we can only speculate about, states that his ministry is only for the lost sheep of Israel. And yet something about her desperation and her strength of conviction moves him to grant her request and to respond with mercy and a deep recognition of her humanity and the righteousness of her cause.

It seems that as Jesus engaged with the woman and began to truly consider her plight he became convinced of the worthiness of her cause. Is this part of how it is for us? That as we consider others as unique and valued persons we are moved to respond to them as whole persons whose needs for safety, education, food, shelter, health is as relevant as our own. As the perceived differences shrink our hearts grow in their capacity to see the other and to desire what is good for them as we do for our own? And this appreciation can be for those in front of us and those very far away. Indeed, to be justice as well as mercy we need to be able to span the distance in culture, miles, and agreement.

When I desire peace and safety, food and shelter, hope and a future for those living in war ravaged places I am not pretending I fully understand their life and predicament, nor am I pretending that we are exactly the same in all ways, but I am reflecting on my own needs deeply enough that I can recognise in someone I will never meet, their needs as worthy as mine and the justice of their needs being met with dignity and mercy. And in this sense justice is near – it is in part in my own heart and in yours and on the verge of being realised. To some extent the coming of justice is up to each of us, although of course we can only do a part of what needs to be done.

Intercessions:

Creator God,

You made all things good and love all that you have made

Open our eyes that we may see as you see

and open our ears to hear the cries of the needy

and the call to justice and mercy.

We particularly pray for those who are suffering from violence, exclusion, hunger and despair … due to war, natural disaster, family violence …

Strengthen our resolve to work for the reign of justice and mercy.

Creator God,

Hear our prayer.

Jesus, fully human and divine one,

In whom we are held together