Justice

The development of the sense of justice lies in unselfishness; one cannot be just and selfish at the same time. The selfish person can be just, but only for himself. He has his own law most suited to himself, and he can change it, and his reason will help him to do so, in order to suit his own requirements in life. A spark of justice is to be found in every heart, in every person, whatever be his stage of evolution in life; but the one who loves fairness, so to speak blows on that spark, thus raising it to a flame, in the light of which life becomes more clear to him.

We cannot be a judge of the action of another until we ourselves are selfless. Only then will justice come to us; only then will we understand the nature of justice. Self is the wall between us and justice. There is only one thing that is truly just, and that is to say, 'I must not do this.'

Real justice cannot be perceived until the veil of selfishness has been removed from his eyes. The least spark of selfishness will prevent man from being just. He will continue to have a partial interest, because he will be looking after his own interest. Whatever furthers his own interests, he will call his right and his justice.

A Franciscan Christmas Blessing for Justice and Peace

From a secular Franciscan and a friend:

May God bless you with discomfort…at easy answers, hard hearts,half-truths ,and superficial relationships.

May God bless you so that you may live from deep within your heart where God's Spirit dwells.

May God bless you with anger…at injustice, oppression,and exploitation of people.

May God bless you so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless you with tears…to shed for those who suffer from pain,rejection, starvation and war.

May God bless you so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, in your neighborhood,so that you will courageously try what you don't think you can do, but, in Jesus Christ you'll have all the strength necessary.

May God bless you to fearlessly speak out about injustice,unjust laws, corrupt politicians,unjust and cruel treatment of prisoners, and senseless wars, genocides, starvations, and poverty that is so pervasive.

May God bless you that you remember we are all called to continue God's redemptive work of love and healing in God's place, in and through God's name, in God's Spirit, continually creating and breathing new life and grace into everything and everyone we touch.

"Troubadour: A Missionary Magazine," published by the Franciscan Missionary Society, Liverpool, UK: Spring 2005.

Micah Blessing

This is what Yahweh
ask of you; only this

to act justly,

to love tenderly,

and to walk humbly

with your God.

Micah 6:8

Elder's Meditation -- Justice

I cannot hide my true spirit and intent from the Creator.
He created a system of justice.
This system of justice says we will get back whatever we plant.
If I plant good then good returns - if we plant bad, then we will suffer the consequences.
Whatever we think about another person, the same things are thought about us.
Whatever we send out is sent back.
Man cannot alter this system of justice.
It doesn't matter what we say or do.
What really matters is what we really, really did.

Oh Great Spirit, guide me today to do good,

to have good thoughts.

Let me remember the things I do

are to honor Your way of life.

The Seed Of Our Founding Fathers

With the gift of a land and a nation comes responsibility to the my Creator.
As a Christian, I am seriously impelled by the vision of our nation's founders to seek liberty, peace and justice for all -- a task that is never complete.
Let me cultivate for the final havest the seed our founders sowed.

Free me to flow your way, my Creator!

Where complacency darkens
my vision of your will for me:

Where greed for personal gain dims
my commitment to the welfare of all people:

Where the failure of faith discourages
me from pursuing your goals for me:

Freedin is not an achievement but a gift.
Freedom is not license but radical obedience to God's liberating law of love.
Let me give thanks for the gifts of freedom we have received and, trusting in God as did our nation's founders, let me seek to share them as gifts with all who are still enslaved by political oppression, social or economic injustice, or personal sin.

Free your people, Lord!
For all those who hold others under
the yoke of polictical oppression and violence:
-- grant them conversion of heart.
For all those who serve themselves
at the cost of social or economic injustice toward others:
-- grant them conversion of heart.
For all those who are enslaved by habits of sin:
-- grant them conversion of heat.

May the God of peace we with us all. Amen.