Addressing Injustice

A strange complaint was raging in a Christian community. The greek widows complained that they were neglected in the daily distribution of food. The widows were not receiving their due. Deprivation of one's due is an injustice. An injustice gave rise to a complaint. The complaint called attention to an injustice.

The apostles admitted that there was an injustice. And they quickly addressed it. They appointed seven deacons to serve the whole community. The apostles did not ignore the complaint. They did not defend or justify an injustice. They did not delay in addressing the problem. They acted proptly. The little complaint was put to rest and the community moved on.

Many problems in the families, societies and nations began as a little complaint. A complaint calling attention to an injustice, inequality, wickedness and tyranny. The atrocious and vicious wars in the world began as a little complaint.

Often complaints are ignored or rejected. Injustice is defended or justified. Justice is delayed or denied. The divorce happening in this marriage began with a complaint. The agitations and uprisings unfolding in our world began with a complaint.

When complaints are ignored or treated with levity, an occasional complaint becomes frequent; silent complaint becomes very loud and just complaint becomes violent and vicious.

We need to examine our relationships to check whether there are complaints we ignore. Of course, not all complaints are valid. Some complaints are baseless. But we should not be too quick to dismiss a complaint. We may examine the complaints addressed to us in the light of truth, Justice and the Word of God.

If the complaints are valid, we need to address the problem immediately. Justice delayed is justice denied. Our inaction, denial and delay can become the worst form of injustice.

Our God is a God of justice. The Lord frowns at injustice. "Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity" (Prov 22:8). We can't afford to be deaf to legitimate complaints around us. We cannot be blind to instances of injustice in our society. We can't remain insensitive or indifferent to the cries of injustice.

Christian Freedom and Responsibility

Freedom is the source of dignity of the human person. It is one of the few qualities we share with God. Without freedom we will not be different from animals or trees.

Freedom is the source of alternatives and options. Without freedom there will be no reason to bring different options to the table. Only those who are free can choose.

Freedom is the source of reward and punishment. It is because we are free that our actions can be praised and reward or blamed and punished. Without freedom our actions will lack either merit or demerit.

Freedom is our second nature. Freedom is embedded in our being. So much so that we are not free not to be free. It is almost impossible to decide not to be free. The decision not to be free is itself free.

In life we face many choices. Some choices are opposites- light and darkness, life and death, good and evil, heaven and hell. We are free to choose any of the two. We are not free not to choose any of the two. To choose not to choose is already a choice.

With reference to fundamental options like God or eternal destiny, we can not remain neutral. We have to make a choice. This is one of the reasons many people dread their own freedom. Because they know they have to take eternal responsibility for the use or abuse of their freedom.

Freedom is a gift of God- a gratuitous and unmerited gift. Freedom as a gift evokes responsibility and a sense of duty.

In order to choose wisely we need two things. First, we need the truth to illuminate and guide our choices. You will know the truth, the truth will set you free ( Jn 8:32). Second, we need the grace of God to nugde us to choose correctly. Without the grace of God, freedom is often abused.

The Light That Darkness Cannot Overcome (Part 1)

Darkness is associated with something unpleasant or dangerous. Darkness symbolises evil, sin, ignorance, adversity, despair, gloom and doom.

It appears even God is not comfortable with darkness. When God created the earth, the earth was covered with darkness. The Spirit of God was hovering in darkness. And God said "Let there be light." And there was light. And God saw that it was very good and God separated light from darkness (Gen 1:1-4).

God created Adam and Eve and  allowed them to enjoy the brilliance of divine light. But Adam and Eve sinned. They step outside the frame of light and entered the region of darkness (Gen 3:1-19). Moral darkness covered the earth. Evil multiplied, sin increased, and darkness also deepened. "The way of the wicked is like deep darkness" (Prov 4:19). The whole humanity was groping in darkness, evil, injustice and wickedness.

But the Lord who is rich in mercy would not abandon humanity (Eph 2:4). The Lord sent prophet Isaiah to announce the new era of great light, the triumph of light over darkness. The prophet proclaimed: the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined (Is 9:2).

This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus entered the human history. "In him was life, and the life was the light of men and women. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" ( Jn 1:4-5). Jesus himself would later say: "I am the light of the world" (Jn 8:12).

Enemies As Footstool

The Lord's revelation to my Lord: "sit at my  right hand, until I make your foes your footstool" (Ps 110:1).  This verse primarily refers to Jesus, the conqueror of evil and satan, who is now seated at the right hand of God (Lk 22:69).

This verse also explores our approach to our 'enemies'. Life is complicated. We make enemies. We also become enemies to others. We may hate others and become hateful ourselves.

Christ is inviting us to leave the valley of hatred and hostilities. Christ is inviting us to come and sit at his right hand (Col 3:1). The right hand of Christ is a place of extreme honour and grace.

But to sit at the right hand of Christ, we need to be pure and purified, we need to be clean and cleansed. In other words, we need conversion, purification, self denial and sacrifices. Who can climb the mountain of the Lord? (Ps 15:1-5).

If we dare to cleanse ourselves and sit at the right hand of Christ. We experience two things. First. We feel safe. Our safety is absolutely guaranteed. Not a single hair on our heads can be touched in the presence of Jesus (Lk 21:18). The Lord will prepare  a banquet for us in the sight of our enemies (Ps 23:5).

Second, our perspective of our enemies will change. The enemy who appears so big will now look so small. We realise that an enemy is not to be feared but pitied. Sitting next to Christ and looking down, we see our enemies at our footstool. Rather, our enemies become our footstool.

The footstool is not a comfortable place for the enemies. It is a place of pain and suffering, shame and disgrace. That's why Jesus asks to pray for our enemies (Matt 5:44). So that our enemies may leave the footstool one day and join us at the right hand of Christ!

Fine Words and Fine Deeds

The parable of the two sons is very instructive (Matt 21:28-32). The father approached his first son and asked him to go to the vineyard to work. The first son told the father he would not go to the vineyard. He later changed his mind and carried out the wishes of his father. The father also approached the second son with the same request. The second son enthusiastically agreed to do what the father commanded. But he would not lift even a finger.

Jesus uses this parable to teach us some fundamental truths about the Christian life. Christianity is not about words but actions; not fine words but fine deeds; not what we say but what we do; not profession of faith but performance of faith; not external obedience but interior compliance; not sweet talk but long walk. Talk is cheap. We need to walk our talk.

This parable has a special resonance for all Christians, especially Catholics.  We made a number of promises to God at our baptism, confirmation and matrimony. What matters is not what we promise publicly, not what we say we are or what we want people to believe we are. The most important thing is promises kept and not promises pronounced; internal disposition and   not external propositions; internal appropriation of our religious values and not good resolution.

Jesus wants us to be very careful about labeling people. The Lord wants us to be very cautious about putting people in the categories that they do not belong. At first glance, the first son may appear to be disobedient and the second son obedient. We should exercise some caution about assessing the moral stand of an individual; whether good or bad.

Often our assessment is short-sighted; at best, one-sided. Even outrightly wrong. Since our judgment is only external. We judge only the appearance. Appearance is not reality. At least, appearance is not the whole of reality. What a person is and what a person appears to be are not exactly the same thing.

The person who appears to be disobedient may well be doing the will of God. As it often happens in history, the bad can turn out to be good, and the good bad. Man looks at appearance while God looks at the heart (1Sam 16:7). The Lord is asking us to choose between lip-service and selfless service. Fine words can never replace fine deeds.

Common Challenges of Forgiving Others

The Bible encourages us to forgive our brothers and sisters when they offend us. Be merciful as your Father is merciful (Lk6:36).  But in our efforts to be merciful like the Father we may face many daunting challenges. This article discusses some of these difficulties.

Hardness of Heart

One of the commonest challenges we may face is hardness of heart or lack of forgiveness. We may find it difficult to forgive because our hearts are hard and hardened, bitter and embittered. We know we have to forgive, but in our heart of Heart we don't want to forgive. When we find it difficult to forgive, let us remember the parable of the ungrateful servant (Matt 18:23-35). The Bible warns us that "merciless will be the judgement of those who show no mercy" (Jam 1:13).

Initiating Forgiveness

Our Lord Jesus Christ says if we are offended, we should take forgiveness to those who offended us. We should take the first step. We have to make the first move and initiate forgiveness and reconciliation. "If you are bringing an offering to the altar, and remember that your brother has something against you. Leave your offering at the altar, go and reconcile with your brother" (Matt 5:23-24). "If another member of the Church sins against you, go and point out the fault when two of you are alone"(Matt 18: 15-17).

Initiating Forgiveness is very difficult for many of us. When we are offended, we become very angry. We rage. We foam.  The last thing we want to do is to go and meet the offender. We say in our hearts:  if the offender wants forgiveness let him come and beg for it. In our pride and narrow mindedness we wait for people to apologise first before we forgive. The offender may not come and beg for forgiveness. We may wait for ever. We may wait in vain.

God did not wait for humanity to ask for forgiveness before He sent His only begotten Son to die for us. God took the first initiative and He is asking us to do the same- to swallow our pride, come down from our thrones, go and offer mercy to our brothers and sisters.

Forgiveness and Memory

Many preachers have said that we have to forgive and forget. Sometimes we may forgive but we may not forget. Many Christians go around with guilt because they can't forget the wrong perpetrated against them. It is common to hear people say: "I have forgiven but I can't just forget". We need to understand that certain horrendous events cannot be forgotten because we are human beings, because we have memory. A victim of rape may never forget her ordeal even if she forgives her rapist.

We don't have to feel guilty because we have not forgotten the hideous experience we endured. However, we don't have to deliberately recall these horrible events or habitually bring them to mind. We must not brood over the past events. It is not necessary to revive or relive the feeling of anger, hatred and sadness over and over again.

We can remember the awful and dreadful events of our lives without anger, malice, hatred and sadness. We can ask God to purify our memory.

Forgiveness and Reconciliation

Sometimes in life reconciliation does not always follow forgiveness. It is possible to forgive and still find it difficult to reconcile with others. Especially if the other party is not ready for reconciliation. We don't have to feel guilty because our efforts to reconcile with somebody fail. We can't force anybody to reconcile with us. We can pray for the other party. We can involve others in our attempts at reconciliation.  We can hope that one day we will reconcile. We should  be always open to reconciliation.
Meanwhile we are at peace.  We maintain our peace of mind while waiting for reconciliation to succeed. We don't have to live in debilitating guilty because we have not yet reconcile with the other.

Be merciful like the Father can be very challenging but not impossible. Every effort at forgiveness and reconciliation is worth the trouble. Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.

Tragedies As Urgent Warning

Jesus was informed of the grisly atrocities that Pilate committed. Pilate was notorious for some prodigies of cruelty. He slaughtered many people with ruthless barbarity and mingled their blood with their sacrifices. Few days before this horrendous crime, the tower of Siloam fell and killed eighteen people. Jesus used the occasion of these calamities to call the people to repentance.

Every day we hear tragic news of natural disasters- earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes and flooding; acts of terrorism, kidnappings, beheadings and accidents.  Over one million people die in road accidents. Thousands of people have lost their lives in senseless war and violence.

When we hear about these tragedies, we become a little sober. We sympathize with the victims or even empathize with them. Then we simply go back to our normal routine, return to our old sinful way of life. We tell ourselves these horrible things will never happen to us. The victims of these horrendous events also entertained the same belief, but today many of them are lying in their graves.

We are not better than the random victims of these tragedies. In this valley of tears, bad things happen to good people all the time. Misfortune can happen to anybody at anytime. The sudden and unexpected death of others should remind us of our fragility, vulnerability and immortality. This is the reason Jesus invites all to repentance. The call to repentance is infused with sense of urgency. Life can be very unpredictable. Life is precarious. Human existence is capricious.

Repentance is an urgent priority. A wise person will reconcile with God, with his neighbors and with himself.  A true Christian will live each day fully as if it is his last. He will work for his salvation with fear and trembling. Tragic news should remind us of our need for repentance.