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Justice
Justice
The story has
been told of a man who was caught and taken to court because he had stolen a
loaf of bread. When the judge investigated
he found out that the man had no
job
and his family was hungry. He had tried unsuccessfully to get work and
finally
to feed his family
he had stolen a loaf of bread. Although
recognizing the extenuating circumstances
the judge said
“I’m sorry
but the
law can make no exceptions. You stole
and therefore I have to punish you. I
order you to pay a fine of ten dollars.” He then continued
“But I want to pay
the fine myself.” He reached into his pocket
pulled out a ten-dollar bill
and
handed it to the man.
As soon as the
man took the money
the judge said
“Now I also want to remit the fine.” That
is
the man could keep the money. “Furthermore
I am going to instruct the
bailiff to pass around a hat to everyone in this courtroom
and I am fining
everyone in this courtroom fifty cents for living in a city where a man has to
steal in order to have bread to eat.” The money was collected and given to the
defendant.
This is an
excellent example of justice being meted out in full and paid in full-while
mercy and grace were also enacted in full measure. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
A socialist once came to
see Andrew Carnegie and soon was railing against the injustice of Carnegie
having so much money. In his view
wealth was meant to be divided equally.
Carnegie asked his secretary for an assessment of everything he owned and at the
same time looked up the figures on world population. He did a little arithmetic
on a pad and then said to his secretary. "Give this gentleman l6 cents.
That's his share of my wealth."
Unknown.
To do injustice is more
disgraceful than to suffer it.
Plato.
There may be times when we
are powerless to prevent injustice
but there must never be a time when we fail
to protest.
Elie Wiesel.
That great American hero
editor
school teacher
and Presbyterian clergyman Elijah Lovejoy left the pulpit
and returned to the press in order to be sure his words reached more people.
The Civil War might have been averted and a peaceful emancipation of slaves
achieved had there been more like him. After observing one lynching
Lovejoy
was committed forever to fighting uncompromisingly the awful sin of slavery.
Mob action was brought against him time after time; neither this nor many
threats and attempts on his life deterred him. Repeated destruction of his
presses did not stop him. "If by compromise is meant that I should cease
from my duty
I cannot make it. I fear God more that I fear man. Crush me if
you will
but I shall die at my post..." And he did
four days later
at
the hands of another mob. Not one of the ruffians was prosecuted or indicted or
punished in any way for this murder. (Some of Lovejoy's defenders were
prosecuted! One of the mob assassins was later elected mayor of Alton!)
However
note this: One
young man was around who was deeply moved by the Lovejoy martyrdom. He had just
been elected to the Illinois legislature. His name was Abraham Lincoln.
Paul Simon
"Elijah
Lovejoy
" Presbyterian Life
18:13 (November 1
1965)
quoted in K.
Mennenger
Whatever Became of Sin
p. 210.
Life is unjust. Upon
accepting an award
the late Jack Benny once remarked
"I really don't
deserve this. But I have arthritis
and I don't deserve that either."
Haddon Robinson
Leadership
IV
3
p. 94.
A socialist once came to
see Andrew Carnegie and soon was railing against the injustice of Carnegie
having so much money. In his view
wealth was meant to be divided equally.
Carnegie asked his secretary for an assessment of everything he owned and at
the same time looked up the figures on world population. He did a little
arithmetic on a pad and then said to his secretary. "Give this gentleman
l6 cents. That's his share of my wealth."
Source Unknown.
Injustice is relatively
easy to bear; what stings is justice.
H.L. Mencken
Prejudices.
Supreme Court Justice
Horace Gray once informed a man who had appeared before him in a lower court
and had escaped conviction on a technicality
"I know that you are guilty
and you know it
and I wish you to remember that one day you will stand before
a better and wiser Judge
and that there you will be dealt with according to
justice and not according to law." Surprised while burgling a house in
Antwerp
Belgium
the thief fled out the back door
clambered over a nine-foot
wall
dropped down the other side
and found himself in the city prison.
Oops: The Book of Blunders
1980.
In the Antarctic summer of
1908-9
Sir Ernest Shackleton and three companions attempted to travel to the
South Pole from their winter quarters. They set off with four ponies to help
carry the load. Weeks later
their ponies dead
rations all but exhausted
they
turned back toward their base
their goal not accomplished.
Altogether
they trekked
127 days. On the return journey
as Shackleton records in The Heart of the
Antarctic
the time was spent talking about food -- elaborate feasts
gourmet delights
sumptuous menus. As they staggered along
suffering from
dysentery
not knowing whether they would survive
every waking hour was
occupied with thoughts of eating. Jesus
who also knew the ravages of food
deprivation
said
"Blessed are those
who hunger and thirst for RIGHTEOUSNESS." We can understand Shackleton's
obsession with food
which offers a glimpse of the passion Jesus intends for
our quest for righteousness.
Source Unknown.