We spoke of God’s justice at the story of Mordecai and Haman. We mentioned he elements of individual and social justice and that justice promotes societies and the just person would respect others’ rights.
We started the story of the close friends who parted and chose different paths yet they met again at the court where one of them was a judge and the other a thief.
Let us resume the story. Lawyers assigned to defend the accused and the prosecution knew about the previous friendship between the judge and the thief. They wondered what the judge would do and whether he would be able to reconcile law enforcement with his respect for their past friendship or he would rule against him
People stood before the judge and the session began. Proceedings went on and the prosecution explained the accusations. The lawyers offered their defense and at last, it was the judge’s turn. He ruled his fiend guilty and has to pay the maximum financial penalty. He knew that the law allowed him to commute it to the half. Astonishment took over all the audience while they were watching the judge taking out enough money to pay his friend’s penalty. The judge’s good conscience made him doing his job and judging justly. However, their friendship made him pay the penalty. He had two different desires to be just and merciful, to enforce the law and to save his friend and he did both. How beautiful if both mercy and justice meet and mingle to be a merciful just or a just mercy. This is God’s attribute; He is All-Just and All-Merciful.
Man is inclined to justice as he was created in God’s image and likeness according to Christianity. He also carries God’s attribute like love, justice and mercy in their limited form. It is written “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness” Genesis 1:26
Man is the vicegerent of Allah on Earth, according to Islam. As Dr. Mahmoud Hamdi Zaqzouq has said that man should abhor injustice as God also did. Otherwise, he would be relinquishing his responsibility as God’s vicegerent. It is written in Qur’an ” And (remember) as your Lord said to the Angels, “Surely I am making in the earth a successor.” They said, “Will You make therein one who will corrupt in it and shed blood (Literally: bloods) while we (are the ones who) extol (with) Your praise and call You Holy? Literally: hallow for you)” He said, “Surely I know whatever you do not know.” Suraht Al Baqarah 2:30
Enforcing justice is man’s spiritual and moral mission on earth. Bible says on God’s commandment to Abraham ” For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” Genesis 18:19.In Qur’an, it is mentioned: “Verily God has enjoined justice, the doing of good, and the giving of gifts to your relatives; and forbidden indecency, impropriety and oppression. He warns you so that you may remember.”Surat AL-Nahl Verse No.90
God’s justice is depicted to all His creatures as he shines on the good and evil and grants goodness to all of them. His mercy encompasses all things. Each man will reap what he sows and this proves God’s justice.
Count Philippe’s daughter was getting married. A great celebration was made. The wedding was in spring, thus the bride and groom decided to walk on their feet. Amidst happiness of the newlyweds, they noticed another parade coming from the opposite side. It was led by a young man who looked so poor and was lamenting carrying a coffin that was devoid of roses save one. When the organizers of the wedding parade asked the people at the funeral procession to make a space for the wedding parade to pass, the beautiful bride put a pretty rose out of her precious rose crown on the coffin and asked the organizers to let the procession pass to go to the church. The man was really touched and he started weeping…to be continued
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
