The word justice can evoke such an array of feelings and thoughts, and often a harshness. Yet, when connected to God, justice is about fairness and goodness for every human.
Justice plays an essential role in our spiritual lives, perhaps as the starting point for every aspect of justice we encounter, be that through personal responsibility, love of neighbor, or faithful pursuit of justice.
God’s justice is made known to us in both testaments of the Bible, but Christian justice is revealed to us most clearly and beautifully through Jesus in the Gospels. Jesus came “to bring glad tidings to the poor . . . liberty to captives . . . recovery of sight to the blind” (Lk 4:18-19). The social teaching of the Church, or social justice, is defined here in its essence: like Jesus, our lives are meant to overflow with mercy, love, and compassion for others—all facets of justice. This central aspect of our faith keeps us focused on treating others as we want to be treated, leading us to become more kind, forgiving, and generous, and by doing so, becoming more just.
Our encounters with others in physical or spiritual need are actually encounters with Christ, who said “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Mt 25:40). Jesus aligned Himself with the poor, “the least,” and in doing this He forever changed the concept of what it means to be God-like. To be like God is to be humble, to be mighty is to be in touch with the lowly; to be just is to give of oneself to others in need.
We have a responsibility in faith to look out for others, making efforts where we see need. Acts of love need not be complicated, yet they accomplish much to acknowledge the essential dignity of all humans. As Christians, as Catholics, we must reach out in service to give of ourselves to the people around us. A habit of giving in this way is a habit of social justice that serves on so many levels: comforting others and also forming a deeper sense of gratitude in our own hearts. The more we experience the need in others, the more we experience gratitude to God for what we have. How spiritually healthy that is!
In friendship too, we practice justice by overcoming our natural desire to do only what is most important for ourselves, by giving companionship to someone in need. Being present to others is an act of justice and answers the call Jesus makes to us.
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