| JULY 1, 2025 -- “Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” Amos 5:24
“And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you; he will give justice to them speedily.” Luke 18:7–8
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33
“God commands justice and fair dealing…” [Quran, 16:90]
The Hebrew word Tsedaqah and the Greek word Dikaiosune both mean both justice and righteousness. Various bible translations may use either word almost interchangeably. Justice [or righteousness] is a basic part of all three Abrahamic religions. Thus it is a requirement for all believers, whether Jewish, Christian, or Muslim, to seek after justice and righteousness.
If the same word is used in Hebrew and Greek for both Justice and righteousness, why do we use two different words in English? We might say that righteousness is agreement with God’s instruction to us and an intent to do what God wants us to do, and justice is righteousness in action, actively working towards that end. How do we do so? We have the commandment in Leviticus 19:18 to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus repeats this commandment in Mark 12:31. We also have the “Golden Rule” to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. God wants us to show no partiality, no unfairness. Being fair also means that each of us needs to be held responsible for our own actions, either good or bad.
Understand that we are not talking about justice for ourselves, but rather justice for the poor, the marginalized, those who have not gotten a fair shake, a fair deal from life. We do not need to seek these people out. They are all around us, except that many times we are blind to their existence. Perhaps unconsciously we do not Want to see them. We do not have to travel to the slums of Calcutta, or even to the slums of Bridgeport to find them. The people who have been denied justice are also in our own communities, perhaps even in our own religious congregations or among the members of our own grange. Examine yourselves; are you blind or asleep to what is going on around you? Remember: we are born not for ourselves but to help others.
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