Here’s a story about justice and faith in God.

When I was a little girl, my grandfather had taken my little brother and my little cousin and I to the amusement park. We were attracted to a game where you could win a giant stuffed pink elephant. All you had to do was throw a baseball into a metal milk urn. Now the challenge was that in order for the ball to fall into the urn it would have to be thrown so that it enters the urn in a perfect 90-degree angle, otherwise the ball would hit the metal lip around the urn and bounce off.

Ok it was my grandfather’s turn to throw the ball. We would get three chances. The first throw hit the lip of the urn and bounced off. Then I started praying. I really wanted my grandfather to win the pink elephant. My grandfather threw the second ball and Jesus directed this throw.   Can you imagine the joy of three little children watching that ball fall into the urn! We had won a giant pink elephant! We were cheering and then Satan spoke. The person running the game said we did not win because he felt my grandfather had extended his arm too far when throwing the ball.   WHAT INJUSTICE!

My grandfather spoke only some French and Italian and the person running the game was not prepared to listen to us children saying “That’s not fair!” So I told my grandfather, brother and cousin, I was going to get the police involved. My grandfather tried to console me and tell me to forget it but I couldn’t accept the injustice. So I dashed through the amusement park asking people where I could find the police and I prayed that God would not let me get lost because the crowds were huge and it was confusing. Finally I found the trailer where the police were stationed and I knocked on the door. The tall policeman that answered the door looked over my head wondering who was knocking and then I spoke saying “I have a problem”.   He was momentarily taken aback as he looked down seeing a little girl asking for his assistance.

The policeman was willing to help me. I gave him my hand and through God’s grace we found our way back to the game where my grandfather, brother and cousin were waiting. When the person running the game saw the police they quickly agreed to give us our pink elephant. But beyond that, the policeman started looking at their park permits and there must have been another problem because he started making notes and it looked like they were now getting a fine! We were thrilled to go home with our pink elephant that would become a symbol of God’s love and justice.

All of us have a responsibility to stand for justice upholding God’s law.   In the Book of Ezekiel we learn of God’s expectation that we help people understand the evil they are committing. “Now, son of man, I am making you a watchman for the people of Israel. Therefore, listen to what I say and warn them for me. If I announce that some wicked people are sure to die and you fail to tell them to change their ways, then they will die in their sins, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths. But if you warn them to repent and they don’t repent, they will die in their sins, but you will have saved yourself.” Ezekiel 33:7-9

It’s easy to turn a blind eye to injustice. We can do it even in our families as a way to try to “keep the peace” and not argue. That’s a sure way to offend God! God expects us to help people understand His will and if we fail to take on a conversation that is difficult, then we fail to honour Him by not helping people understand the path of righteousness. We all need to help one another see and resolve injustice.

I never forgot the policeman who held my hand as we walked through an amusement park full of people, consoling me that he would help me work things out. I also remember another policeman who was monitoring a new left turn that had time restrictions on it. If you turned after a certain time you would get a fine. I remember turning at the restricted time and the policeman pulled me over. I said I’m sorry I didn’t notice the sign and the policeman gave me a break and I didn’t get a ticket. It’s also good to sprinkle a little mercy on the pathway called justice, so long as a little mercy doesn’t let a criminal go free.

Food for thought! May Our Holy Lord give us the courage and wisdom to deal with injustice fairly and mercifully. In the name of Jesus we pray! Amen.