Q: Archbishop J, is justice sufficient?

As children, we have a concept of fairness, which somehow is built into our brain. Sharing of a cake in the family could cause great consternation if it is perceived that someone got the “bigger half”.

Justice demands that we treat all people fairly, regardless of ethnicity, age, gender, or class. If you like, this is a minimum contract between humans.

In antiquity, justice was a matter of the stronger prevailing. Very early, amongst the Jewish people, while they were still in the desert, God put a limit on the vengeance one could exact.

In Exodus 21:23–27 the law prescribed an exact response to the offence done: “But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.”

We need to understand that this was an upgrade from the previous system where someone could lose an eye and revenge could lead to the obliteration of the person’s entire family. There was no limit.

The law that God gave the people was a significant step forward. You cannot exact more than the injury that was done.

The move from revenge to justice is significant. When we are wronged, we first want revenge. We want them to pay. We want our pound of flesh or more. This is the thinking behind domestic abuse and gang warfare. You treat me with disrespect, I hit you. You kill one of my men, I must kill three of yours.

This is infantile behaviour that is destroying our families and our communities.

In 2019, official statistics tell us 537 murders were committed. In 2020, the figure stood at 398 and in 2021, 447. We are usually among the top ten countries, per capita, in the world.

This is a sad reflection of how we treat each other and manage disputes. Violence against women fills out the picture: we do not have a great record of treating others, especially the vulnerable, with respect and dignity. These are just two indicators that social justice in Trinidad and Tobago is not healthy.

Moral Upgrade 3.0

In his address to the multitude (Lk 6:17 ff.), Jesus did an upgrade of the old moral law. He asked us to love our enemies, to do good to them, bless them and pray for them. This is not justice. This is a higher law: mercy.

It asks us to absorb the violence and give back love. “To the one who slaps you,” He says, “turn the other cheek” (Lk 6:29). Then, He gives the golden rule—Do to others as you would want them to do onto you. And He ends with, “Be compassionate, as your Father is compassionate” (Lk 6:36).

The call to justice and mercy requires great moral restraint. It calls us to a path of compassion and love. This is what is unique about Christian ethics, which invites us to move from revenge to justice, to mercy. This is a challenge right in the core of our bellies.

Let’s be honest, if someone does us wrong, we want revenge. However, if we do wrong to another, we want mercy. This is why the golden rule is so useful. It forces us to consider: if I was in someone else’s situation how would I want others to treat me?

The Covid challenge

If because of Covid the business where you worked closed permanently, and you had significant debt, and could not feed your family, what would you want while you struggled to find employment and a new beginning? This is why we extended ourselves, made deep sacrifices and fed so many during the pandemic.

At the 2013 Pentecost Vigil, Pope Francis asked: “When you give alms, do you look the person in the eye? … do you touch the hand of the person you are giving them to?” Giving alms is good, treating people like people is more important. We have to live by the higher law.

The Migrant challenge

If Trinidad and Tobago devolved into a failed State, and you and your family had to go to a foreign country where you did not know the language, how would you want to be treated? What would you want for your little children? This is the moral guide to our social justice ministry to migrants and refugees.

I would want food, clothes, shelter, meaningful employment, education for my children and hospitality. Can we as Christians in T&T give any less than this, especially when Pope Francis asks us to welcome, protect, promote, and integrate the migrant and refugee into our communities?

The Vaccination challenge

From March 13, 2020, we have been living with Covid. At first, we were all in the same boat paddling together. Then the vaccine came, and some have made a choice not to take the vaccine. I have seen both the vaccinated and unvaccinated discriminate against the other.

Those like myself who promote vaccination, point to two statistics. The first statistic, 83.5 per cent of those in hospital are not fully vaccinated, compared to 16.5 per cent fully vaccinated.

The second number is deaths: of the 2924 persons who have died of the disease, only 230 have been fully vaccinated (Ministry of Health Covid update dated February 20, 2022). That is 12.7 per cent. This is a pandemic of the unvaccinated. To be clear, some 87 per cent of those who died were not fully vaccinated. This is alarming.

Some of the unvaccinated see life very differently. They view the vaccine as untried over a long period and as experimental. They believe the vaccine could have long-term effects that we cannot now see.

They speak of cases where there were medical challenges because of taking the vaccine. Some are hyperallergic with severe medical conditions and have violent reactions to many things and believe the risk is too high.

The golden rule begs a question: If I were part of the other group, how would I want to be treated? There is so much more to the question. But let us begin to treat each other as brothers and sisters, while we ensure we do what is right for the safety of our family, our Church, and our society.

Key Message:

As Christians, we are asked to live the law of mercy which is a higher call than justice.

Action Step:

Reflect on these areas and put yourself on the other side of the fence and ask: how would I want to be treated?

Scripture Reading:

Luke 6:27–38