17th Week in Ordinary Time: Saturday 3rd August 2019

The scripture readings provide us with a contrast between God’s and man’s justice. In the first reading, we read that God asks Moses to set aside the fiftieth year as a holy year, and to declare it a jubilee year. It is to be a time of atonement, not in terms of forgiveness but of “at-one-ment”. God will use the jubilee year to bring “oneness” that is, a reunion between God and His people, and between the people themselves. In this year, the people are free to return to their clan and to their ancestral home. An important way in which this reunion is manifested is through the land, which in itself will be declared holy. There will be no sowing or harvesting, and the land shall have complete rest.

In this way, God the source and sustainer of life, rebalances and brings stability to the life of the people and to the world at large. At the heart of the jubilee year is the sense of God justice and fairness based on God’s love. The psalm today echoes this divine rule of justice and fairness.

In contrast, however, is the false justice administered by King Herod on John the Baptist. Although John is innocent, Herod orders John’s execution because Herod does not want to be accused of not keeping his vow to the daughter of Herodias. Herod’s sense of justice of not predicated on fairness but on the emotions of shame and fear.

How about you? What is your sense of justice? Is it based on love or on human emotions?

Lord, help me be just like You.