Into the Sacred Hills of Jade

SIXTEENTH DAY OF LENT

Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?”  Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. – Matthew 18:21-22

Forgiveness in the “Justice Christianus” is often a slow acting process that teaches through a sequence of new beginnings.  This process of continually applied forgiveness is how full reconciliation is ultimately achieved, a process of saving the sinner while executing justice upon the sin.

When I was a lad our family who listen to the radio, back then, a heavy floor model Philco radio with a round, glowing dial.  It took a fine touch to tune that radio to a radio station.  You would first turn the dial to the right and then to left, slowly repeating these steps until you centered in on the signal.  No push buttons to zipped you to the clear signal, but rather the moving the dial with ever finer sensitivity.  And such it is with patiently applied forgiveness … slowly the repentant sinner “tunes in”.

Forgiveness is not so much about given someone a second chance, though that is a part of it.  No, forgiveness is more about restoring a life to its proper place on the dial, that finely tuned place where the Divine goodness is found.

So when Peter asks if seven times to forgive is more than enough chances to give someone, he misses the point of forgiveness completely.  Forgiveness in the “Justice Christianus” is about changing of the course through ongoing course correction.

Forgiveness is not a one-time thing, nor even a seven-time thing; it is an ongoing process of salvation.

Always in Christ’s Service,

Fr. Charitas de la Cruz

FIFTEENTH DAY OF LENT

At that time Herod the ruler heard reports about Jesus; and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and for this reason these powers are at work in him.”  For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”  Though Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet. But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and she pleased Herod so much that he promised on oath to grant her whatever she might ask.  Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” The king was grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he commanded it to be given;  he sent and had John beheaded in the prison.  The head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who brought it to her mother. His disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went and told Jesus. – Matthew 14:1-12

This injustice of the execution of John the Baptist was perpetuated by a political figure for a political purpose in reaction to a political statement.  For no other reason, John was imprisoned for demanding just and moral practice by the political leaders.  His standing up against injustice was met by that very same spirit of injustice.

In the “Justice Christianus“, justice is not in the whim of the powerful but in the wisdom of the Divine.  We as mere mortals can do no more than to act justly and to defend those treated unjustly, for Justice is determined by the moral nature of God.  Thus when the powerful seek to define justice on their own terms, then this mortal justice becomes tainted and insufficient, often corrupt and self-serving.

As Christians, we understand that our human form of justice has, is and will always require refinement.  Where once we were primitive in our understanding of justice, in the process of God bringing heaven and earth together we refine our mortal sense of justice is we humbly allow it.  And where we are now in our present understanding of what is just, will in the future be refined all the more … that is … if we have the humility to move forward in the direction of Divine Perfection.

Justice defined by the powerful can be a dangerous evil.  We have seen it to be so, over and over again.

Always in Christ’s Service,

j. e. mcwhinnie

FOURTEENTH DAY OF LENT

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. – Matthew 5:9

In our western jurisprudence we find traces of the relationship between justice and peace.  At times, we refer to the Justice-of-the-Peace.  Law enforcement officers have on occasion been referred to as keepers-of-the-peace and as peace officers.  Yet, I think most people think of justice in terms of punishment and law enforcement as gun-toting officials with snarling dogs.  And indeed it is true … the justice of this world has been intertwined with violence, or at least, when it comes to street crime.  Handcuffs and night sticks, iron bars and razor wire, a few of the instruments of justice, at least, the justice of this world trying to manage its own evil.

In contrast, the “Justice Christianus” is all about restoring the peace, making the peace, sustaining the peace, forging the peace.  The primary source of this is Jesus’ seemingly absurd counsel to His people in respect to the Roman occupation forces.  “When they slap you on one cheek, turn to them the other cheek.”  Not an act of surrender but rather an act of courageous passive-resistance.  “When they demand your cloak, give them your coat as well.”  Not an act of submission but rather an act of rising above the situation by what of generosity.  “When they press you into service to carry their burdens for a mile, offer to carry it two.”  Not an acceptance of being enslaved but a declaration of dignity to instead to be of service.

Near the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus wept at the walls of Jerusalem.  “O my Jerusalem, if only you would have listened to the ways that would work for peace.”  He knew.  He could read the times.  He could see the rising militancy among the people.  They would resort to swords to save them … but it only led them to total destruction at the boots of Roman soldiers.

“Justice Christianus” is always seeking to make the Peace, not by surrender but by perseverance and endurance.  Eventually, justice will work its will and the peace will be restored.  Yet, even among many Christians … they crusade in a warlike way … with violence in their rhetoric that over time becomes violence in their ways.

Always in Christ’s Service,

Fr. Charitas de la Cruz

THIRTEENTH DAY OF LENT

“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  – Matthew 5:11-12

Justice is inevitable in the “Justice Christianus”.  If not fulfilled in our lifetime, it will still be fulfilled.  The justice on earth will be made perfect someday.  This Justice Christianus is a justice becoming more and more perfected until it is Perfect fulfilled.

No, this justice delayed is not a theology of pie-in-the-sky, but rather a justice in the making.  It is declared and pursued in this Present Moment but will not be perfected until that ultimate moment.  The justice sought today WILL be satisfied, if not today then one day.

Why is this understanding of patient justice so important?  Why is vital that we understand that justice is something that is going on to perfection?

History has shown that yesterday’s state of justice is never the justice that could be.  At one time, laws in certain countries protected the rights of slaveholders.  But as time passed, laws in many of those countries that slavery was never a just institution.  We have always beheld justice through a foggy lens, but with the process of the Christification of human thought, the layers of fog become fewer and fewer.  As is always the case in the Divine process of revelation, over time more of understanding is progressively revealed.  Thus we are never imprisoned in the unknown injustice of our times, but await that day when all justice is perfected.

As Christians, we seek clearer and clearer, fairer and fairer, more and more universal understanding of justice.  We move toward a more perfectly administered system of justice, not one shackled to former understandings.  For to do this would be to deny the ongoing revelation by God as God teaches us more and more of how matters are considered heaven so that we might apply them more perfectly on earth.

Always in Christ’s Service,

Fr. Charitas de la Cruz

TWELFTH DAY OF LENT

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:10

Righteousness is one of those Biblical words that one hears in church and its meaning is rather vague for most people.  The word has a tinge of the negative because we hear so often used in the sin of self-righteousness.  Basically righteousness is doing the right thing with the right spirit and intention.   For the Christian, the right thing with right spirit and intention as found in the heart of Christ.

In a judicial sense, righteousness is being in right standing with the court of law and with the community.  When used in the “Justice Christianus” is the work of mercy in the coming together of the penitent and the Divine.  It is the work of God in placing us in right standing in the heavenly courts and the community of Creation.  And at the same time, it is a work of repentance enabled by the guiding grace of God.  It is placing us in the right orientation and in the right quality of relationship with God and with others.

In part, righteousness is a course correction, embarking on a new course that leads us from where we are to where will need to be.

In part, righteousness is a restoration, a restoring to its rightful state, not the former state, but the state desired by the Lord.

Through and through, righteousness is being centered and balanced in the fuller understanding of the Justice and Mercy present in the heart and mind of the Lord.

Righteousness is the fair justice in the Perfect Love of God for all.

Always in Christ’s Service,

Fr. Charitas de la Cruz

ELEVENTH DAY OF LENT

While Jesus was still speaking to the four disciples in the garden, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss Him; but Jesus said to him, “Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?” When those who were around Him saw what was coming, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him.  – Luke 22:47-51

The injustice carried out by Judas goes by the name of “treachery”; the injustice carried out by Peter goes by the name of “violence”.  And in the Justice Christianus “treachery” is replaced with “transparency”, “violence” is replaced with “due process”.

Adam and Eve hid in the garden lest the Lord make known their guilt.  If they had not hidden, I sense that mercy would have mediated their punishment of exile from the garden for the first question asked by the Lord was not, “What have you done?” but rather “Why were you hiding?”  I personally think the course of the story would be more about God revealing the nature of conscience and guilt than about the Fall.

Cain slew Abel.  In the Biblical story, the introduction of humanity’s problem with violence and vengeance which in turn provokes more violence, the first question asked by the Lord was not “What have you done, Cain?” but rather “Where is your brother, Abel?”  If Cain would have directed his frustration with his feelings of failure and rejection with the Lord Himself, Cain might have gained a greater self-awareness.  Through his prayerful conversation with God Cain would have found a just satisfaction of his grievance through due process.  But instead … Cain resorted to violence to satisfy his wounded pride.

Transparency and due process … are both necessary in Christian justice.  In our relationship with God, we confess and repent.  In our relationship with others, we seek mercy and reconcile.  Though the world in its instinctive reasoning gives license to treachery and violence; not so in the “Justice Christianus”.

Always in Christ’s Service,

Fr. Charitas de la Cruz

Tenth Day of Lent

[Jesus then continued with His teaching …] “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in another person’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to another person, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of another person’s eye.”.                     – Matthew 7:1-5

In “Justice Christianus” we are not to sit where the judge does sit, but rather to kneel where the penitent does kneel.  We are not the executioners, we are the counselors.

We are called to confession.  We are called to seek clear vision, to see through unprejudiced eyes, to see through eyes not clouded with smoke of vengeance and vindictiveness, to see through eyes half-blinded by our own sins.  Fair justice is dependent upon clear vision as to what true and what is false.  Fair justice is not determined by fear or selfish motive, but by an honest and unfiltered beholding of the reality before us.

Yet the so-called justice of this world is too often carried out through blurred and distorted vision.  Prejudice (pre-judging),  political loyalties, tribal mentality, limited experience, insufficient knowledge, fostered fears, festering resentments are among those blinding specks that turn justice into injustice.  But in the “Justice Christianus” the eyes of justice must be cleansed and pure.

The judges in the Sanhedrin were blinded by fear, pride, self-righteousness, defensiveness and political intrigue.  The judgment by King Herod was blinded by self-interest, haunting guilt, indifference, and political interests.  The judgment by Pontius Pilate was blinded by political ambition, frustration with the crowds, a willingness to be swayed to pacify the mob.  The judgment by the passers-by who mocked Christ as He suffered on the cross, they were blinded by the cynicism of the times and their ignorance.

Lent is a time to remember that confession is both good for the soul and for the well-being of the community.  Lent is a time for the washing of eyes of the dust of this world.  Lent is a time to remember that we are called to be humble and holy and not judgmental and self-righteous.

Always in Christ’s Service,

Fr. Charitas de la Cruz

Ninth Day of Lent

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” – Matthew 6:14-15

Some might say this admonition of Christ comes after the Lord’s Prayer, I believe it is instead the conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer.  Christ speaks to the justice of mercy that is within the “Justice Christianus”, there exists not only for me but for all.  To ask for forgiveness is to enter into the process of forgiveness, a covenant that God’s mercy and providence is to be shared among us.

I like to refer to this passage and others like it as the principle of Christian karma.  When we begin to judge others then we ourselves are judged; when we take upon ourselves the condemnation of others, we ourselves are condemn; but when we forgive others we ourselves are forgiven.

Justice in the teaching of Christ seeks to restore and rehabilitate, reconcile and recreate by way a mercy that restores all into just and peaceful community, not only me, but also them and the community as a whole.  The justice and mercy I seek I am bound in the Christian covenant to offer the same justice and mercy to others.  To fail to forgive or to refuse to forgive is extracting oneself from this covenant community of merciful justice.

Thus the first prayer is not “Lord forgive me”, but rather, “Lord, help me to forgive others.”

Always in Christ’s Service,

Fr. Charitas de la Cruz

Eighth Day of Lent

[And Jesus began to teach them] …“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven; blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted; blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth; blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.; blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy; blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God; blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God; blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven; blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account; rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” – Matthew 5:3-12

Whether taken individually or taken collectively, the Beatitudes speak of justice, the “Justice Christianus”.  Somehow and in some way, the present injustice will be reversed by the just actions of God.  But they speak not merely of justice in the hands of God but also the just ways that ought to be the ways of God’s People.

Humility, compassion, gentle manner, desperately seeking the right action, bestowing mercy, working for peace, courage, long-suffering and endurance … these are aspects of the “Justice Christianus”, a justice that goes counter to the justice as defined by the world.

All injustice will be dealt with either in this present moment, or soon to arrive moment, or in a moment awaits in the distance.  But injustice will be rectified and the people will be reconciled with God and others.  The intention of God will be finally achieved and fulfilled.

But alas we still live in a world of injustice, but the vector of our course is pointed toward justice realized.  So we do the just action in the just manner in the meantime, allowing the Lord to slowly transform this world through our just manner and just hope.

Always in Christ’s Service,

Fr. Charitas de la Cruz

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