XXII — JUSTICE

Presence of God. — Teach me, O Lord, to love justice and to hate all that opposes it.

Meditation

1 — To the Pharisees who one day, with subtle cunning, asked Him whether it was lawful or not to pay tribute to Caesar, Jesus replied: “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” (Mt. 22:21). With this simple answer He traced for us the clear and precise line of the virtue of justice: to give each his due, to give everyone what pertains to him. “Justice,” St. Thomas confirms, “is the perpetual and constant will to render to each his right” (II-II, q. 58, a. 1). To God, the worship due to Him as Creator, Lord, our Father: therefore adoration, honor, glory, gratitude, faithful observance of his laws, humble and devoted service. To neighbor, respect for his rights, taking into account the different duties we have toward him according as he is superior, equal, or inferior.

Certainly the soul that tends to perfection cannot be content to remain within the limits of justice. Charity will urge it to want to give and do more. Nevertheless justice will always be charity’s indispensable presupposition, without which charity itself cannot subsist. Charity toward God can and must impel us to do something more than what is strictly prescribed, but this “more” will not be pleasing to God if in doing it we neglected some obligatory duty. Thus a professional cannot dedicate himself to apostolic works to the prejudice of his professional duties, and a religious cannot do supererogatory works that put him in condition of failing in some point of his rule. Likewise, charity toward neighbor can and must impel us to give alms, but this would not be acceptable to God if it were done with money that, in justice, belonged to others, as would be the case, for example, if such money had to be used to pay workers their just wage or to settle debts, and so forth. Where one fails in justice, that is, in what is obligatory, one cannot speak of charity either toward God or toward neighbor. Only beginning from justice’s solid and indispensable foundation can charity take flight in a high and secure ascent.

2 — “You love justice and hate iniquity; therefore your God has anointed You with oil of gladness,” sings the psalmist praising the just man (Ps. 44:8). God gives his gladness and peace to the soul respectful of justice, which fulfills with scrupulous exactness all duties deriving from it, even at cost of sacrifice. For it is not rare that, to respect others’ rights, one must renounce some personal comfort or well-being, and at times even sacrifice one’s own interests. But the soul that wants to tend to perfection must be generous in every field and must never allow egoism to hinder it from fulfilling its duties of justice toward neighbor. One of the things that scandalizes and displeases people of the world most is to see persons devoted to piety who, in their relations with others, make no scruple about failing in justice and closing their eyes before others’ rights when those rights come to disturb personal interests. The more a soul aspires to perfection, the more it must have a true cult of justice and sincerely detest all that opposes it, even in slight measure. Such conduct is source of peace for oneself and for others. “Justice and peace embrace” (Ps. 84:11), says Holy Scripture, precisely because only where there is justice can peace reign; whereas where justice is not respected, all attempts at accord and peace will be vain. Our God is the God of peace. Who then more than the soul that wants to live in his intimacy should be a bearer of peace in every environment? But it will bring peace only if it observes justice. It would serve no purpose, in fact, to exhort to peace if one refuses to give each his right.

As observance of justice is source of peace and gladness for our conscience, so it is source of peace and gladness for families, communities, every milieu of life, and for society as a whole.

Colloquy

“O justice, you are that precious pearl by which the soul shines; you give peace and light, make souls stand in holy fear, and keep their hearts united. When your light is lacking, we immediately find ourselves immersed in disorder and wrapped in the darkness of injustice” (cf. St. Catherine of Siena).

O Lord, You alone can infuse true justice in me, because You alone are infinite justice, “You who are just in all your ways and kind in all your works” (Ps. 144:17).

“Just are You, O Lord, and upright are your judgments. Justice and supreme fidelity You show in all your ordinances. Your justice is eternal justice and your law is firm. Give me understanding of your precepts and I shall live. Teach me, O Lord, the practice of your statutes and I will follow them punctually. Guide me in the path of your commandments, because I delight in it greatly. Incline my heart to your admonitions and not to self-interest. Teach me to love justice and hate iniquity so that I may enjoy your blessings forever” (cf. Ps. 118 and 44).