Justice

Sunday Reflection – October 16, 2022

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Justice for the Faithful

Luke 18 Jesus was telling them a parable about their need to pray continuously and not to be discouraged. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him, asking, ‘Give me justice in this case against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused but finally said to himself, I don’t fear God or respect people, 5 but I will give this widow justice because she keeps bothering me. Otherwise, there will be no end to her coming here and embarrassing me.” 6 The Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.7 Won’t God provide justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he be slow to help them? 8 I tell you, he will give them justice quickly. But when the Human One comes, will he find faithfulness on earth?”

Performed by Margaret Whisselle

Kids Korner: Giving Justice (October 16th)

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Read Luke 18:1-8 with your family.

This is one of Jesus’ harder parables. Both the widow and the judge are not nice people. The Bible uses the word ‘justice’ but in the original language the widow wanted ‘vengeance’, meaning she wanted the other people punished. The judge was scared she would punch him in the face (that is the original meaning of the word translated as ‘bothering’). He doesn’t care about the widow or following God’s laws or anything else, he just finally gives her what she wants because she is annoying him, not because he is giving real justice.

Jesus said “listen to what the judge is saying”.

Through the years a lot of people have followed the author of Luke’s interpretation, that this story is about be constant in prayer. However, that is not what Jesus is saying.

We don’t have to badger God for justice, God already gives that, often before we know to ask for it.

So what else is going on?

Maybe instead of thinking either the widow of the judge is a good example, we should look at our own behaviour to see if we act like them. Do we only want what we want, regardless of whether it is the best choice for others? Do we just give in so we don’t have to be bothered anymore, whether that is the best choice for others? We have some hard questions to ask ourselves.