Seventh Day of Lent

Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’ For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone,  yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’”  And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to His chosen ones who cry to Him day and night? Will He delay long in helping them? I tell you, He will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?” – Luke 18:1-8

“Justice Christianus” is a justice often slowly achieved and faith is the endurance to press on till it is achieved.  Justice will one day assuredly be accomplished, yet those who pursue justice must persevere.

Our faith in the justice of God is much like a dream of peace sitting in the shade of spreading oak trees.  We plant an acorn in hope of an oak tree; and the oak tree will come … but it will take a while.  Are we merely waiting for that oak tree?  No, we are instead expectantly awaiting that oak tree.  Often we now sit under oak trees of justice planted by a hopeful, faithful person; and we pray that others will sit under oak trees of justice we have planted in our time.

We so often demand justice, and demand we ought.  But too often, in our impatience, we settle for a partial justice that is still in need of maturity.  Change comes slowly, but the work of change begins immediately.

“Justice Christianus” is accomplished through the power of faithful perseverance, allowing the eternal power of the day-after-day resolve to transform this world.  “Justice Christianus” is not accomplished by one moment of prayer, but through days and years even generations of prayer.  But the praying for justice, the working for justice, the seeking of justice is always an immediate task.

Always in Christ’s Service,

Fr. Charitas de la Cruz