Where Does True Justice Come From?

 Baptism of the Lord

Today, we celebrate what could be considered the beginning of Jesus’ public mission. Jesus comes to establish a Kingdom, He comes to bring forth justice. It is not about an earthly kingdom, but the Kingdom of God; it is not about legal, political justice, but about holiness, a spiritual justification. Let us reflect upon each of today’s readings.

1.  We enter Jesus’ kingdom not by natural birth but by baptism, a spiritual rebirth. As St. Peter says (cf. Acts 10:34-38), “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” Jesus’ message is not one that puts nations against each other, but a message that unites all nations under one King and Lord, God: “You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ — he is Lord of all.” Today’s readings and today’s feast of the Lord’s Baptism, allow us to reflect upon the liberation that Jesus came to bring, which is a spiritual liberation, from the slavery to sin and from the power of the devil. “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power” and so Jesus “went about doing good,” that is, no waging war, but giving us an example of virtue; and he went also “healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”

2. Isaiah (cf. 42: 1-4, 6-7) is also clear about the mission of the Messiah: his mission is bringing forth justice, not by waging war, not by imposing himself with power, but by his teaching.

“I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.” How, by a show of power or by force? “He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.” He will “bring forth” justice, not “bring down justice,” as if he were imposing it.

One truly brings justice forth when that justice comes from the heart of people. Justice comes from the heart of people when they are taught, when they are educated in justice, not when they are terrified. A nation that obeys the law out of terror is sadly something possible but not what humanity needs. Fear does not bring justice but outward compliance; fear does not make people just or good. Only education, only true education can bring forth the best from a human heart, and this was the mission of the Messiah, as Isaiah says, “He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching… I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.” Jesus did no liberate John the Baptist from his prison, but He liberated many from the power of the devil and all His followers from the prison of sin.

3. John (cf. Matthew 3:13-17) would have prevented Jesus from being baptized by him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so for now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” And John consented. We all need to be baptized by Jesus, John was right. But Jesus knew that the best way to teach is by example: so, He was baptized first. Jesus came to establish justice, to bring forth justice from human hearts. This is why Jesus taught us justice not simply by His words but also by His example. He taught us to love one another by loving us first, and He loved us to the point of giving His life for us. He did not come to impose His justice by force, but to conquer human hearts by love.

When we see how much evil there is in the world, and how many people fall into sin, we might be tempted to call them back to justice simply by talking about hell and threatening with punishment. We have to be careful with that. Hell exists and it is a real danger, but fear is meant to make people reflect upon their choices and think seriously about the possibility of being just. Fear is not useful if it remains an emotional upset that makes people simply to comply externally with the law, without changing their hearts. The prodigal son is a good example of how an emotional upset becomes a change of heart: when he realized that he was about to die of hunger, he came to himself and thought: “How many employees in my father’s house have bread enough and to spare, and here am I, dying of hunger. I will go back to my father.”

4. Fear of punishment is a good thing but, does it help me to reflect? Does it help me to love justice, or just to comply? What would help me to love justice?

I wish today we could be enticed by Jesus’ desire: to bring forth justice from our hearts. Jesus, when He came the first time, did not come to impose Himself, did not come to punish, did not come to terrify us with His power. He did produce a healthy fear, sometimes, but because of what He taught, not by a show of power, with lightnings and fire from heaven. At his first coming, Jesus used His power to heal, He came to shine by His goodness, and He came to conquer our love by asking for it.

If there is a part of your heart that does not yet belong to Jesus, realize that Jesus is asking for it, and that you have therefore a gift for Him. Jesus begs you from the cross to give Him that water from your heart. And, who knows, He may transform your water into the wine of joy.