Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Justice is a virtue, something good that we seek for the goodness of the world. When we commit harmful acts, we bring evil upon another person, and that evil does not simply go away. Justice seeks to balance the evil committed so that the one who is harmed can be freed from the evil they have experienced. The lack of justice leads to violence as the one who is wronged seeks retribution from the one who harmed them, which perpetuates the evil. Thus, the ancient law prescribed just punishments for those who have committed evil.
Jesus, however, understands that balancing the scales is only a temporary solution. People regularly fail in life, harming others in small and great ways, sometimes accidentally, but also intentionally. Rather than perpetually seeking to balance the scales, Jesus shows us that we can be truly free by accepting others’ faults and harmful acts without seeking retribution. For as long as we live, we will experience harm from other people, but we will also cause harm to others. By accepting this truth and humbly owning our imperfections, we no longer have to worry about retribution but can focus on sharing greater good with the people in our lives.
Reflection by Fr. Victor Schinstock, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections