Justice and Righteousness

On Sunday Lou read: ‘Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness flow like a never-failing stream.’

Justice: the quality of being fair and reasonable

Righteousness: the quality of being morally right or justifiable:

As I young person in church I was taught about God’s justice and righteousness. I learnt about God’s righteous standards and just dealings, about Jesus, salvation and redemption; I could explain justice and righteousness in spiritual and theological terms.

Over the years I’ve understood a broader meaning. Justice and righteousness have moral and ethical dimension – establishing standards of right, wrong and fairness; there’s the social dimension – what these standards look like in our society; there’s the historical dimension – how our standards have changed.

Daily we are presented with stories, images that involve justice and righteousness – murder and war, immigrants and refugees, striking workers, famine and international health issues, active prejudice and the mistreatment of minorities, pollution, global warming, people trafficking…

It’s easy to be an arm chair critic, an inactive ‘expert’ on what should happen, what others should do. They may be world issues, but they don’t involve me… I observe the river of justice and the stream of righteousness. Often it’s polluted or blocked, but it’s not my responsibility.

Two local issues have challenged me…

…Young children starting school, lacking social skills… disruptive, unaware, unconcerned. What does justice and righteousness look like for them and their parents… for their teachers and school staff… for well-behaved children who want to learn and their parents?

…Elderly folk with physical and mental disabilities in care-homes… disadvantaged and dependent. What does justice and righteousness look like for them and their families… for staff and friends… for the involvement of the local community?

I can watch the river go by, criticise its speed or its quality. Or I can step into the stream, be actively involved, removing blockages, caring for those damaged through the pollution, directly supporting those working in the river, ensuring that justice and righteousness continue to flow.