Strong Is Your Justice

Justice is something I've been thinking about a lot lately, and not just because I'm a pre-law major. I think it all started several weeks ago with the International Criminal Court, which issued an arrest warrant for Omar al-Bashir, the current president of Sudan. Although the investigation has been on-going, the arrest warrant came despite cries from the African Union and several other states/groups that such a move by the ICC would inhibit the peace process in Darfur and perhaps even incite more violence. Sure enough, once the warrant was issued for Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes (Genocide charges were dropped), the Sudanese government began to kick-out several aid groups that were operating in Darfur.

But it's not just in law that I find justice. There is the overwhelming, overpowering, all-consuming justice of our wonderful God. I went to Wednesday night Lenten service with my mom last night and, despite having read and sung this service countless times before, was struck for the first time by how many times that word "justice" seemed to pop up. We pray "for those who govern, that justice might guide them." We praise God in The Magnificat, declaring "Great and mighty are You, oh Faithful One, strong is Your justice, strong Your love." And I especially like this last one because it links God's justice with God's love. So often we think of justice as punishment, or at least as bad karma. What goes around, comes around, right? We say a judge's sentence is just. When a criminal is convicted, we say justice has been served. But God's justice is as strong as His love. God's justice isn't about sentencing or wrath or getting what's due, it's about love, compassion, and mercy. When Jesus says "blessed are the peacemakers" (Matthew 5:9), He's talking about justice. When Jesus says"whatever you do unto the least of these, you do unto me" (Matthew 25:40), He's talking bout justice.

So what does justice look like in Sudan? On the one hand, the prospect of ICC prosecution is encouraging, and maybe I'm just entering this perspective as a student of international law. But for me, the ICC is a possible means of accountability and, ideally, a deterrent for future crimes against innocent populations. On the other hand, we cannot ignore that this arrest warrant is causing very real suffering on the ground. It begs the question of why only the President of Sudan is being targeted, when certainly ICC cases could be made for countless other state leaders. Why make an example of him, when we know he probably won't be arrested and, if he is arrested, his ICC proceedings will take years. What's the point? It's politics, really. The politics of punishment ignores the duty of assistance. The politics of retaliation ignores the responsibility of protecting one's own citizens. There are politicians on both sides being guided by self-interest and not by justice. Where is justice in all of this? What can we do for the least of these? As we are required to do justice, I think we need to extend our prayer beyond a prayer for those who govern: we all need guidance for strong justice that is linked with strong love.

The Faithful Servant

We kicked off Lent this week and to start off my 40 days, I attended Drake's production of "The Vagina Monologues" Saturday night. OK, these two things are actually completely unrelated...but trust me, I'm getting to the connection. This year, proceeds from The Monologues were going to a charity for women and children in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Awesome. As the performers were introducing this organization, one of them rhetorically asked "Why should I care about what happens to a woman I do not know on the other side of the world?" Their response, of course, was that the war in the DRC and the suffering these women endure are over everyday resources that Americans consume feverishly, like rubber. It DOES matter because WE are benefitting from this injustice. At the end of the night (the last night of the show) they announced that the production this year managed to raise over $5,000. It was the most money raised to date and the audience and performers were, understandbly, very excited. I heard one person sarcastically remark, "Who says there's an economic recession?" This comment just sent my mind reeling.

Maybe some of you remember the parable from Luke 12 about the Faithful Servant. Jesus is instructing his followers to always be prepared for His coming, because we will not know the day or the hour of His return. He goes on to say that a servant who knows His will but does not do it will be punished more severely than one who does not know Him at all. And here's the kicker at the end of the parable: "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." (Luke 12:48b)

This passage makes me realize that, even in an economic recession, I have still been given so much. There are women in the Congo with nothing. I have two jobs, I am pursuing an opportunity to get a good education at a respected university, I have so many THINGS that I really do not need, and while my bank account is never as full as I'd like, it's never empty. Why am I so blessed? Because I had the fortune of being born middle class, because I was born American. I know the problems that America faces today are very grave. I know there are millions without jobs, food, homes, insurance. It's very serious. A few months ago, rumors at my office were floating that the economy would mean no Christmas bonuses this year, much to everyone's (including my own) disappointment. Never did it occur to me that I was lucky just to be getting an hourly wage this year. (And we still got our bonuses...) My fellow students and I complain about tuition increases and the cost of attending our private, 4-year university. But I bet that most of us will find a way to attend next year. Much has been given.

There are many with nothing. Not just here at home, but around the world. People in the Congo, Gaza, Iraq, Cambodia, Zimbabwe. The list goes on and on. Even as a nation in economic crisis, we have been given so much. And much will be required.

If you can afford to go to the doctor, it doesn't mean everyone can. Much is required. If you have a job to leave at night and a home to go to, you are so blessed. Much is required. If you can leave your house in the morning and be fairly confident that you and all of your family members will make it home alive that day, you are more fortunate than many others. Much is required.

We live in a very broken world. And even amidst suffering, we have been given much. Still, much more is required.

Lent is a time of reflection and sacrifice. This year, perhaps we should all reflect on our blessings and be willing to sacrifice a little more to bless others. It's easy to look to April and the happy ending of the Resurrection, but I think it's beneficial to consider this parable throughout these 40 days. What are we doing to prepare the way of the Lord? Will we be ready for the unknown day and hour? What has been given? What more will be required? There is much to do.