Justice In Our World- Justice At What Cost?

In a world where injustice apparently happens all of the time there are two questions that almost immediately come to mind.  First. ¨How can there be a God that allows all these bad things to happen to good people?” Second, Ïf God has the power to stop these things, why does he not do so?¨

In a world where six million Jews were murdered, eleven and half million Ukrarians were murdered and more than one and half million Armenians were murdered how did God just stand by and allow this to happen?  The answer is as simple as it is shocking- on this earth we have adversarial justice- system of justice where to have two points of view on something and they battle to win. This system does not want nor seeks the truth, they- rather seek the opportunity to win. Winning is everything and justice takes a back seat along with the truth.

Satan is the ruler of this world (Jn 12:31; 14:30),

Bishop Fulton Sheen wrote about justice like this:

Modern prophets say that our economics have failed us. No! It is not our economics which have failed; it is man who has failed-man who has forgotten God. Hence no manner of economic or political readjustment can possibly save our civilization; we can be saved only by a renovation of the inner man, only by a purging of our hearts and souls; for only by seeking first the Kingdom of God and His Justice will all these other things being added unto us.

It is very important to note here that justice Bishop Sheen was talking about was God's justice not man´s justice. Man´s justice is justice between two opposed parties on two opposite sides.  Gods justice is universal and endless. One justice tries to secure a winner at all costs, the other will provide the eternal truth or meaning to all things. In a very odd sense adversarial justice provides a means to an end a means to an end but it does not provide real justice. Prue justice is provided when the individual would get their do.  Adversarial justice is provided when the system would get their do. 

Here on earth is there any wonder on who rules and why?

Bishop Sheen wrote about this, The industrial and social injustice of our era is the tragic aftermath of democracy's overemphasis on freedom as the "right to do whatever you please." No, freedom means the right to do what you ought, and ought implies law, and law implies justice, and justice implies God. So too in war, a nation that fights for freedom divorced from justice has no right to war, because it does not know why it wants to be free, or why it wants anyone else to free. 

In his book, Life With Christ, Bishop Sheen explained just how Satan fools so many people on this earth.  He explained, Very few people believe in the devil these days, which suits the devil very well. He is always helping to circulate the news of his own death. The essence of God is existence, and He defines Himself as: 'I am Who am.' The essence of the devil is the lie, and he defines himself as: 'I am who am not.' Satan has very little trouble with those who do not believe in him; they are already on his side.

The concept that God allows pain and suffering to happen to good people somehow takes away power from God or lessens the lessens the power of God is simply beyond belief.  God does not punish people with pain or torture- people do. In many cases we do it to ourselves. Sickness and tragedy are common problems but God does not allow us diseases to punish us. 

Not long before he died, Sheen noted the sufferings in his life, but also acknowledged their benefit. “There has been physical suffering. And other kinds … but as I look back over the years, I have never received the punishment I deserved. God has been easy with me. He has never laid on me burdens equal to my faith,” he said.

Sheen was asked why he did not move up higher in the Church’s hierarchy. He said: “I refused to pay the price. … I felt it would be disloyalty to my own principles, and I think to Christian practice.” Sheen’s travails were met by patient suffering and preference in virtue. He knew his suffering only made sense in the light of God’s providence: “Christianity begins not with sunshine, but with defeat. During those days when my life was backed up against the Cross, I began to know and to love it more.”

Truly we can all learn a thing or two from Bishop Fulton Sheen.