Justice

So Jesus said that the poor would always be with us. I was reflecting on this idea and how in ways it could quite possibly slap the human understanding of retributive and reparation justice in the face. This idea of doing justice because there is a 'norm' to the world, that there is a balance we must achieve seems faulty in light of Jesus' comment that the poor will always be with us. For if the poor will always be with us there is no hope of bringing about this balance, this norm.

Don't get me wrong, I think it is horribly wrong that there are children who go to bed hungry and will later die because they don't have food. I think it is wrong that mothers will lie dying of a disease knowing there is no one to care for her children. I think it is wrong that in the name of justice people kill to restore this elusive thing known as justice.

My point, is that yes, we feed those who are starving. Yes, we care for orphans and widows and whoever else is around us suffering as a result of our broken world. BUT, we do not do these things because we believe we will bring about a balance, it is not to establish something. The one who will establish justice is God. It is our heavenly Father. At the time when the kingdom is fully known and made present there will be justice that is so perfect we cannot fathom it now. And so for now let us love God and others. Let the world know we are Christians because we, who are make up the body of Christ, love others despite the reality that we ourselves will never bring about a world of justice.