Justice and Mercy

As Catholics we hear and talk a lot about Mercy…and well we should. Mercy is the preeminent quality of God. God is Mercy. The first saint to be canonized this century, St. Faustina, is God’s messenger of Mercy.

Is this the millennium of Mercy? I believe it is.

But God is also perfect Justice. We often think of justice as the opposite of mercy, but in reality it’s a critical component of it. Without Justice, without redressing evil doers, there is no mercy for their innocent victims.

To understand this we need to accept the reality of evil in the world. If there was anything made clear in the 20th century, as well as in the first 20 years of this one, is that evil exists. To deny that is to deny reality…which of course has become a rather popular past time—or perhaps more accurately, cultural imperative these days.

We are living in unprecedented times when right is wrong, wrong is right and fear seems to pervade every aspect of our lives. Fear is of course an emotion, but can be used as a tool of control—hence a grave evil we must counter through prayer and acts of faith.

But lately we cry out for justice, as well we should. Yes, we continue to pray for conversions, even of the most wicked on the world stage. Anything is possible with God. But the sad reality is that many have chosen their path and are hell-bent on destroying anything and everyone that represents goodness. We are witnessing an all—out war against God and anything truly good and holy. Many surely must be brought to justice.

So, how do we balance imploring God’s mercy while also praying for His justice?

Here are a few thoughts:

First, make a good confession.

Be brutally honest about your own sins and shortcomings. Recall God’s immense mercy to you in forgiving your worst sins. Humble yourself before the Lord.

Get your anger in check.

It is completely understandable, and even perhaps somewhat admirable, if you feel outrage at the injustices and crimes against humanity that are becoming more and more evident. To see the magnitude of injustices committed on a local or global scale can be overwhelming. But vengeance belongs to God and this is an easy trap the devil sets for us to inflame our anger out of rational control. It’s easy to feel completely justified to hate or even take matters into our own hands and take action or retaliate. That is not God’s way…and it can’t be ours. Wait on the Lord. Trust Him and He will act.

Implore God’s will in the world.

God is infinitely more offended and outraged at man’s inhumanity to man than we are. He can change it in the blink of an eye. It may seem like a mystery that He doesn’t… but His ways are so far above our ways.